ed the first day of joy and happiness.

But John Gotzkowsky, to whom this feast was given, whom Berlin called
her deliverer and benefactor, was not present at this banquet. Deeply
buried in furs he had just entered his carriage, and braving danger
and toil, in the cold and darkness he drove away toward Meissen, where
the king had established his headquarters.

* * * * *

BOOK III.

CHAPTER I.

FREDERICK THE GREAT AT MEISSEN.

The great battle of Torgau had been fought, and the Prussian army,
after so many combats and such a bloody victory, was contemplating
with lively satisfaction the going into winter quarters, which, it
hoped, this time would be in Saxony. The Prussian headquarters were,
for the time being, in Meissen, and in the palace there, for a short
resting-spell, dwelt the king, who for many years had only experienced
the troubles and dangers of his position; the king who had often
struggled with hunger and care, daily privation and mortal danger,
and who one day, wearied out by sleeping night after night on the cold
ground, commissioned his adjutant to provide a bundle of straw for
the comfort of his royal person. The king had for a long time spared
Saxony. He was sorry for this beautiful, afflicted land. But Saxony
was finally to be treated as an enemy's country, as she would not
appreciate Frederick's noble forbearance and clemency, and had allied
herself to his enemies with fanatical zeal. And now her devastated
fields, her paralyzed factories, her impoverished towns and deserted
villages, testified to her distress and the calamities of war. But at
this time quiet and tranquillity reigned in the hostile camps. On both
sides they were too tired to be able to carry on a fresh conflict,
and the strength of both parties being exhausted, they were obliged to
allow each other time for rest. Besides, the winter had set in early
with unusual severity, and, to all appearances, put an end to the
campaign of 1760.

The only contest now was for winter quarters; and it had been,
therefore, after the victory of Torgau, the king's first endeavor to
cut off the retreat of the Austrians to Dresden, or at least to drive
them out of this town. But, as the king wrote to Countess Camas, "They
laughed at us from the top of the hills--I withdrew immediately, and,
like a little boy, have stuck myself down in pure disgust in one of
the accursed Saxon villages. I assure you I le