He then said to her, in a voice full of emotion:
"I have but this last favor to ask of your majesty, that you will
now leave this room, so that my soldiers may enter it."
Without answering, the queen, accompanied by her confessor and maid
of honor, left the apartment.
"And now," said the queen to Countess Ogliva, as she entered her
reception-room, "send messengers at once to all the foreign
ambassadors, and tell them I command their presence."
CHAPTER XIV.
SAXONY HUMILIATED.
A half an hour later the ambassadors of France, Austria, Holland,
Russia, and Sweden, were assembled in the queen's reception-room.
The queen was there, pale, and trembling with anger. With the proud
pathos of misfortune, and humiliated royalty, she apprised them of
the repeated insults she had endured, and commanded them to write at
once to their different courts, imploring their rulers to send aid
to her sorely threatened kingdom.
"And if these princes," said she, impetuously, "help us to battle
against this usurper, in defending us they will be defending their
own rights and honor. For my cause is now the cause of all kings;
for if my crown falls, the foundation of their thrones will also
give way.
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