udden paleness, that the conversation was now taking an agitating
turn.

"What do you know of my letters to Nadasky?" said the queen,
breathlessly. "Who says I have written to him?"

"Your own hand, gracious queen," answered the general. "While the king,
my noble sovereign, was in Bernstadt, he was told that General Nadasky
was at Ostriz, and sent General von Werner after him. Nadasky fled, but
his baggage was captured, and amongst his letters this one from your
majesty was discovered."

And he held up the letter in question before the queen, to convince her
of its authenticity.

Maria Josephine endeavored to tear it from him, but the general was too
quick for her.

"By command of my master, this letter is to be returned to you, but upon
one condition."

"Well, what is it?" said the queen, faintly.

"I am to read to your majesty a few sentences from it, selected by the
King of Prussia himself."

"And all my letters shall then be returned to me?"

"All, your majesty."

"You can read," said the queen, seating herself.

General Fink approached the window by which he had been standing before,
and looked out for a few moments. Some one, perhaps, had passed with
whom he was acquainted, for he bowed several times and raised his hand
as if he were beckoning. After this intermission, at which the queen
and her confessor had looked in amazement, he opened the letter and
commenced to read.

It was a demand from Queen Maria Josephine to the Austrian general to
do all in his power to ruin their common enemy. "If we are energetic,"
continued the general, reading in a loud voice, "it will soon be done.
At the battle of Collin, God laid his mark upon Frederick; Prussia will
have no more victories; her arrogant ruler has sung his last Te Deum."

At this moment the bells of the nearest church commenced their solemn
chimes, and from the fort behind the castle the thunder of cannon was
heard. The queen rose from her seat and rushed to the window.

"What is the meaning of this?" said she, breathlessly. "Why these bells?
Why this cannon? What--"

The renewed thunder of cannon drowned her words. She threw open the
window, and now all the church bells were joined in one harmonious
chant. From beneath the queen's windows there arose a slow, solemn hymn,
and as if borne aloft by invisible spirits, the words "Te Deum laudamus"
were heard by the queen. Her eyes sparkled. "For whom is this Te Deum?"
said she, breathlessly.

"I