Queen Matilda's two maids of honour, Von Kalkreuth and Von Thienen, who were so devoted to their mistress, were sent off to the German duchies, and even the queen's hairdresser was compelled to quit the capital. Chamberlain von Warnstedt voluntarily went out of the way of the storm; returned to Schleswig, and was eventually appointed chief forester there.
The next man who fell under proscription was excellent Reverdil, who has supplied so much curious information about the court of Christian VII. If he had not believed in the guilt of Caroline Matilda, I should have liked him better; but as it is, I will not let him drop out of this history without giving some account of his overthrow.
At six o'clock on the morning of January 17, Reverdil heard a knocking at his door, and a voice exclaiming, "Do not be frightened; no harm will be done you; it is I, your friend, Colonel Köller." When Reverdil let him in, he handed him a note from the king to the following effect: "I shall not see you for the next few days; circumstances oblige me to this." Reverdil spent the day among his friends, picking up information, and went that night to the French play, where the royal family were present. The next morning, Köller came from the king to arrest him for disobedience of orders. The conversation between the two was capital.
"May I know what procures this arrest?"
"I do not know. How do you stand with Count Osten?"
"Neither well nor ill."
"It was he who gave me this message, as he came out of the king's cabinet."
"But what have I done since yesterday morning?"
"You went to the play; and the king, who wrote to you that he did not wish to see you, saw you there,——or might have seen you."
"Oh, come, that is impossible; he is too short-sighted; and then I was under his box; besides, I could not give that meaning to the order you brought me."