At this moment loud, angry and excited voices made themselves heard from the antechamber, and a lackey tore open the door.

“Your excellency, the Commandants von Rochow, von Kracht, and Colonel von Goldacker request an audience.”

But the three gentlemen did not wait for the granting of this audience.  With unseemly haste they rushed into the cabinet, unceremoniously thrust out the lackey, and closed the door behind him.

“Most gracious sir, do you know it?” screamed Rochow, the commandant of Spandow.

“Do you know, your excellency, what things are going on?” growled Kracht, the commandant of Berlin.

“Have you learned what bold steps the Elector is taking?” thundered Colonel Goldacker, shaking his fist in a most menacing way.

“I know nothing, gentlemen, have heard nothing!  Speak, tell me what has happened!”

“It has happened that the Elector has sent commissioners to all our fortresses!” cried Herr von Rochow.  “Two hours ago such a cursed fellow came to me at Spandow, and when he had delivered me his message I left the fool standing there without any answer, threw myself on my horse, and galloped off to confer with your excellency.”

“And such a confounded popinjay has been with me, too!” growled Herr von Kracht.  “He also imparted to me his Electoral message—­command, the fellow called it.  I did just like Commandant von Rochow, left him standing while I hurried off to your excellency.”

“An Electoral mandate reached me also!” cried Colonel Goldacker, laughing.  “I simply showed the jackanapes the door, laughed him to scorn, and am come to get my orders from your excellency!”

“But, gentlemen, with all this I know nothing and can not find out what has happened.  Sir Commandant von Rochow, inform me.  What is the matter?”

“The matter is, your excellency,” said Herr von Rochow, gnashing his teeth, “that a commissioner from the Elector has come to me with his master’s orders, to require an oath of allegiance to the Elector from myself and the whole garrison.”

“A like order has the Elector’s deputy handed to me!” cried the commandant of Berlin; “the fellow wanted to swear me and my men into the Elector’s service.”

“I, too, must give such an oath to the commissioner!” screamed Goldacker, “and my troops as well.  What do you say to that, Sir Stadtholder in the Mark?”

Just now, however, the Stadtholder said nothing.  He turned pale and tottered backward, until his hand rested upon a chair into which he sank.  His head swam, a sudden dizziness seized him, and he was obliged to put his hand over his eyes, for everything was turning and whirling in a circle around him.  In the vehemence of their own excitement the three gentlemen hardly observed this, and the count, with the energy of his strong will, speedily recovered his composure and presence of mind.

“Your excellency!” cried Commandant von Kracht, “do you not agree with us?  Do you not find the Elector intolerably assuming?”