This cunning king
wished to give them another proof of his favor. Does your majesty
wish to know of the present he made this, preacher?"
"What?" said the queen, with a mocking laugh. "Perhaps a Bible, with
the marginal observations of his profligate friends, Voltaire and La
Mettrie?"
"No, your majesty; the king sent this learned preacher a dozen
bottles of champagne!"
"He is a blasphemous scoffer, even with that which he declares holy.
But punishment will overtake him. Already the voice of my exalted
nephew, the Emperor of Germany, is to be heard throughout the entire
land, commanding the King of Prussia to return at once to his own
kingdom, and to make apologies to the King of Poland for his late
insults. It is possible that, in his haughty pride, Frederick will
take no notice of this command. But it will be otherwise with the
generals and commandants of this usurper. They have been commanded
by the emperor to leave their impious master, and not to be the
sharers of his frightful crime."
"I fear," said Countess Ogliva, sighing, and raising her eyes
heavenward--" I fear they will not listen to the voice of our good
emperor.
Pages:
334
335
336
337
338
339
340
341
342
343
344
345
346
347
348
349
350
351
352
353
354
355
356
357
358