"
Countess Ogliva and the chamberlain left the royal apartment, and
Maria Josephine was alone. And now, there was no necessity of
guarding this mask of proud quietude and security. Alone, with her
own heart, the queen's woman nature conquered. She did not now force
back the tears which streamed from her eyes, nor did she repress the
sighs that oppressed her heart. She wept, and groaned, and trembled.
But hearing a step in the antechamber, she dried her eyes, and again
put on the proud mask of her royalty. It was the countess returning.
Slowly and silently she passed through the apartment. Upon her
colorless countenance there was a dark, angry expression, and a
scoffing smile played about her thin, pale lips.
"The King of Prussia," said she, in a low, whispering voice, as she
reached the queen, "demands that the key to the state archives be
delivered at once to his messenger, Major von Vangenheim."
The queen raised herself proudly from her seat.
"Say to this Major von Vangenheim that he will never receive this
key!" said she, commandingly.
The countess bowed, and left the room.
"He has left," said she, when she returned to the queen; "though he
said that he or another would return.
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