"
General Wylich rose from his lowly position. He was pale, but there
was a resolute expression upon his countenance. Looking upon it, you
could not but see that he was about to do something extremely
painful to his feelings.
"Queen of Poland," said he, in a loud, firm voice, "I am commanded
by my king to bring to him the state archives. Below, at the castle
gate, wagons are in attendance to receive them; they are accompanied
by a detachment of Prussian soldiers. I have only to open that
window, sign to them, and they are here. In the antechamber are the
four officers who came with me; by opening the door, they will be at
my side."
"What do you mean by this?" said the queen, in a faltering voice,
moving slightly from the door.
"I mean, that at any price, I must enter that room. If the key is
not given to me, I will call upon my soldiers to break down the
door; as they have learned to tear down the walls of a fortress, it
will be an easy task; that if the Queen of Poland does not value her
high position sufficiently to guard herself against any attack, I
will be compelled to lay hands upon a royal princess, and lead her
by force from that door, which my soldiers must open! But, once
more, I bend my knee, and implore your majesty to preserve me from
this crime, and to have mercy on me.
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