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〃You can read；〃 said the queen。 〃As my ears do not belong to the King of Prussia； it lies with me to listen or not； as I please。〃 She sank gently upon the divan； signing to the priest to remain beside her。
〃I flatter myself that I will have your majesty's attention；〃 said the general； withdrawing to the nearest window and opening a package of letters。 〃The first relates to an extremely amusing occurrence； which my master； knowing that France was your ally； imagined would interest you。 Your highness is aware that Prince Soubise is a brave soldier。 This is Madame Pompadour's opinion； it must； therefore； be true。 About a week ago this brave prince determined to rest for a while from his heroic deeds； and gave the same privilege to a large portion of his army。 The general； accompanied by his staff and eight thousand soldiers； then entered that lovely little spot； called Gotha； to visit the talented and princely duke and duchess。 He and his staff were received by them with great honor； magnificent preparations were forthwith made for a splendid dinner to welcome the prince who； happily； was not only fond of laurels； but also of good eating。 Dinner was served； the French generals had finished their toilets； Prince Soubise had given the duchess his arm to lead her to her seat； when a loud cry of terror was heard from without； 'The Prussians are at the gates！' Prince Soubise dropped the arm of the duchess； through the Paris rouge； so artistically put on； the paleness； which now covered his face； could rot be seen。 The doors leading to the dining…saloon were thrown open； making visible the sparkling glass； the smoking dishes； the rare service of gold and silver； the generals of the prince now hastened forward and confirmed the wild rumor。 Yes； and rumor； for once； was true。 General Seidlitz was there with fifteen hundred brave cavalrymen。 The French are noted for their politeness； and it did not fail them upon this occasion。 Without a word； Prince Soubise and his eight thousand men made room for General Seidlitz and his fifteen hundred； and hastened from the ducal palace。 Before the rich dishes had time to cool； General Seidlitz and his staff were seated at the table； enjoying the magnificent dinner prepared for the French generals。 Many prisoners； many spoils were taken afterward。 Not that Prince Soubise had not taken all his soldiers with him； but there was another small army by which the French troops are always accompanied。 These； the lackeys； valets； cooks； hair…dressers； ballet…dancers； actresses； priests； etc。； etc。； were not able to run as fast as the French soldiers。 The spoils consisted in the equipages of the prince and his staff； in which were boxes and chests containing precious things； their large chests full of delightful perfumes and hair…oils； trunks full of wigs； dressing… gowns； and parasols。 There were several learned parrots who had a leaning to politics； and who exclaimed continually： 'Vive les Franqais！ A bas les Prussiens！' But the kind…hearted General Seidlitz did not wish to deprive the French army of the necessities of life； he therefore sent them their valets； cooks； hair…dressers； actresses； priests； etc。 The perfumes and hair…oils he gave to his own soldiers。〃
〃I trust you have finished；〃 said the queen； playing listlessly with her fan。
〃Ah； your majesty has then honored me by listening？〃 said General Fink； smiling。
The queen preserved a dignified silence。
The general continued reading： 〃After long deliberation； Prince Soubise concluded he had carried his politeness too far in vacating the ducal palace to the Prussians； he determined； therefore； to go after his perfumes； hair…oils； dressing…gowns； wigs； etc。； etc。； and drive the Prussians from Gotha。 Prince von Hildburghausen joined him with his troops。 Thus the French advanced to Gotha； secure and confident of success。 But to their terror they found before the city not two Prussian regiments； as they had expected； but what seemed to them the entire Prussian army arranged in line of battle； and in such large numbers that for miles around the bills were covered； with them。 This was so unexpected to the French generals that they determined to retreat for a while； until they had recovered from their surprise。 They withdrew； leaving the field to the Prussians。 Had they not withdrawn so hastily； they would soon have seen that the Prussian army consisted only of fifteen hundred； which； thanks to General Seidlitz's strategy； presented a very imposing view。 Thus Seidlitz gained the day without firing a shotnot by the troops who were present； but by those who were supposed to be present。〃
〃I have had enough of this；〃 said the queen； rising。 〃I am weary of listening to your witty stories。 The King of Prussia may triumph for a whilehe may jest over his lost battlesbut the hour of his misfortune is at hand。 God； who is justwho thrusts the arrogant and haughty to the groundwill also punish him； and give victory to the just cause。 The battle of Collin was for Frederick the Second the first proof of God's anger； and now with increasing strength His mighty arm will be raised against him。〃
〃I am aware that these are your majesty's sentiments；〃 said the general； smiling； 〃and my master is as well informed。 I think they were stated in almost the same words in letters which your majesty wrote to the Austrian general； Nadasky。〃
The queen fell back upon her seat trembling； and a deep red suffused her countenance。 Even Father Guarini showed by the quivering of his lip and his sudden paleness； that the conversation was now taking an agitating turn。
〃What do you know of my letters to Nadasky？〃 said the queen； breathlessly。 〃Who says I have written to him？〃
〃Your own hand； gracious queen；〃 answered the general。 〃While the king； my noble sovereign； was in Bernstadt； he was told that General Nadasky was at Ostriz； and sent General von Werner after him。 Nadasky fled； but his baggage was captured； and amongst his letters this one from your majesty was discovered。〃
And he held up the letter in question before the queen； to convince her of its authenticity。
Maria Josephine endeavored to tear it from him； but the general was too quick for her。
〃By command of my master； this letter is to be returned to you； but upon one condition。〃
〃Well； what is it？〃 said the queen； faintly。
〃I am to read to your majesty a few sentences from it； selected by the King of Prussia himself。〃
〃And all my letters shall then be returned to me？〃
〃All； your majesty。〃
〃You can read；〃 said the queen； seating herself。
General Fink approached the window by which he had been standing before； and looked out for a few moments。 Some one； perhaps； had passed with whom he was acquainted； for he bowed several times and raised his hand as if he were beckoning。 After this intermission； at which the queen and her confessor had looked in amazement； he opened the letter and commenced to read。
It was a demand from Queen Maria Josephine to the Austrian general to do all in his power to ruin their common enemy。 〃If we are energetic；〃 continued the general； reading in a loud voice； 〃it will soon be done。 At the battle of Collin； God laid his mark upon Frederick； Prussia will ha