"
"Let us now consult as to what is to be done," said the queen. "Send
for Father Guarini, so that we may receive his advice."
Thanks to the queen's consultation with her confessor and her maid
of honor, the King of Prussia's messenger, when he returned, was not
denied an audience. This time, it was not Major von Vangenheim, but
General von Wylich, the Prussian commandant at Dresden, whom
Frederick sent.
Maria Josephine received him in the room next to the archives,
sitting upon a divan, near to the momentous door. She listened with
a careless indifference, as he again demanded, in the king's name,
the key to the state archives.
The queen turned to her maid of honor.
"How is it that you are so negligent, countess?" said she; "did I
not tell you to answer to the messenger of the king, that I would
give this key, which is the property of the Prince-Elector of
Saxony, and which he intrusted to me, to no one but my husband?"
"I had the honor to fulfil your majesty's command," said the
countess, respectfully.
"How is it, then," said she, turning to General von Wylich, "that
you dare to come again with this request, which I have already
answered?"
"Oh, may your majesty graciously pardon me," cried the general,
deeply moved; "but his majesty, my king and master, has given me the
sternest commands to get the key, and bring him the papers.
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