The princess uttered one wild cry, then pressed both hands upon her lips and forced herself to silence.

“What is the charge against him?” she said, after a long pause.

“High treason.  A treasonable correspondence has been discovered between him and his cousin the pandour.”

The princess shrugged her shoulders contemptuously.  “He will soon justify himself, in view of this pitiful charge!  His judges will acknowledge his innocence, and set him at liberty.  But why is he not already free?  Why has he been condemned?  Who were his judges?  Did you not say to me that he was condemned?”

“My lover wrote me that Baron Trenck had written to the king and asked for a court-martial and trial.”

“This proves his innocence; he does not fear a trial!  What was the king’s answer?”

“He ordered the commandant to place Trenck in closer confinement, and to forward no more letters from him.  And now, princess, you must act promptly; use all your power and influence, if you would save him!”

“I have no influence, I have no power!” cried Amelia, with streaming eyes.  “Oh! you do not know my brother; his heart is of stone.  No one can move him—­neither his, mother, his sisters, nor his wife; his purpose is unchangeable, and what he says is fixed.  But I will show him that I am his sister; that the hot blood of the Hohenzollerns flows also in my veins.  I will seek him boldly; I will avow that I love Trenck; I will demand that he give Trenck liberty, or give me death!  I will demand—­”

The door was hastily opened, and a servant said, breathlessly, “The king is coming!”

“No, he is already here,” said the king, who now stood upon the threshold of the door.  “He comes to beg his little sister to accompany him to the court-yard and see the reindeer and the Laplanders, sent to us by the crown princess of Sweden.”

The king advanced to his sister, and held out both his hands.  But Amelia did not appear to see this.  She made a profound and ceremonious bow, and murmured a few cold words of greeting.  The king frowned, and looked at her angrily.  He saw that she had been weeping, and his expression was harsh and stern.

“Come, princess!” said he imperiously.

But Amelia had now overcome her terror and her confusion.  She was resolved to act, and know the worst.

“Will your majesty grant me an audience?  I have something important, most important to myself, to say.  I would speak more to the heart of my brother than to the ear of my king.  I pray your majesty to allow me to speak with you alone.”

The king’s eyes were fixed upon her with a dark and threatening expression, but she did not look down or tremble; she met his glance firmly, even daringly, and Frederick hesitated.  “She will speak the whole truth to me,” thought the king, “and I shall be forced to act with severity against her.  I cannot do this; I am not brave enough to battle with a maiden’s heart.”