CHAPTER V.
SHARING THE SPOIL.
ARREST OF STRUENSEE AND BRANDT—FALCKENSKJOLD'S PRISON—A LADY'S PERILS—CAROLINE MATILDA—A TERRIBLE SCENE—OSTEN'S PERSUASION—ARRIVAL AT KRONBORG—THE QUEEN'S DESPAIR—THE KING IN PUBLIC—POPULAR EXCESSES—REWARDS—GENERAL VON HUTH.
Immediately after the signature of the orders, Köller delightedly offered his services in the odious task of arresting Count Struensee. Followed by Captain Malleville, Lieutenants von Eyben and Frank, and a number of soldiers, he proceeded to the rooms occupied by the favourite on the Mezzanine. Before he entered the bedroom, he made the captain promise to kill Struensee in the event of himself (Köller) being shot. But this precaution proved to be quite unnecessary.
On seeing the intruder, and hearing that he had orders to arrest him, Struensee asked him if he knew to whom he was speaking, and to whom he was intimating this command. The colonel replied:
"Yes; I know very well who you are. You are a count and a cabinet minister; but now you are my prisoner."
Struensee requested to see the royal warrant, but as Köller did not possess this, he said:
"I cannot show you any written order; but I am answerable with my head that the order to arrest you was given me by the king."
Still, the count refused to surrender; so Köller placed his sword-point against his chest, and said very seriously: "I have orders to take you either dead or alive." Struensee sank back, fainting, on a sofa. When he recovered, he asked for a cup of chocolate, which was refused him. The colonel advised him to make haste and get out of the palace before daybreak, as otherwise he could not protect him against the infuriated populace.
Moved by these arguments, Struensee proceeded to dress himself, and was so unprepared for the event, that he only had the masquerade dress which he had so recently taken off. He was obliged, therefore, to put on the pink domino breeches, but was allowed to take his furs, as the weather was bitterly cold. Bound hand and foot, the late omnipotent minister was dragged to a coach, and conveyed, under a powerful escort, to the citadel. As he got into the coach, he groaned, "Great God, what crime have I committed?" When he got out of the coach again, he requested that a trifle might be given the driver, and Köller handed the latter a dollar. The driver expressed his thanks, but said, in good Danish, "I would have done it for nothing."