“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. I am therefore under the sad necessity to beseech your majesty to agree to my master’s will.”
“Never!” said the queen, proudly. “That door shall never be opened; you shall never enter it.”
“Be merciful. I dare not leave here without fulfilling my master’s commands. Have pity on my despair, your majesty, and give me the key to that door.”
“Listen! I shall not give you the key,” said the queen, white and trembling with anger; “and if you open the door by force, I will cover it with my body; and now, sir, if you wish to murder the Queen of Poland, open the door.” And raising her proud, imposing form, the queen placed herself before the door.
“Mercy! mercy! queen,” cried the general; “do not force me to do something terrible; do not make me guilty of a crime against your sacred royalty. I dare not return to my king without these papers. I therefore implore your majesty humbly, upon my knees, to deliver this key to me.”
He fell upon his knees before the queen, humbly supplicating her to repent her decision.
“I will not give it to you,” said she, with a triumphant smile. “I do not move from this door; it shall not be opened.”
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.