“Come,” said Frederick, “give me your hand.  I will conduct you, and I promise you that this time the king will applaud.”

Barbarina did not reply.  In the fire of her impatience, she pressed the king onward toward the door.  Suddenly she paused, and giving him an enchanting smile, she said, “I am, without doubt, much indebted to you; you have warned me of a danger, and in fact guarded me from an abyss.  Truly I think this was not done for my sake, but because your king had commanded that I should dance.  Your reasons were well grounded, and I thank you sincerely.  I pray you, sir, give me your name, that I may guard it in my memory as the only pleasant association with Berlin.”

“From this day, signora, you will confess that you owe me a small service.  You have told ine it was a light task to win provinces, but to capture and subdue a woman was impossible, I hope now I shall be a hero in your eyes:  I have not only conquered provinces, I have captured a woman and subdued her.”

Barbarina was neither astonished nor alarmed at these words.  She had seen so many kings and princes at her feet to be blinded by the glitter of royalty.  She let go the arm of the king, and said calmly and coolly:  “Sire, I do not ask for pardon or grace.  The possessor of a crown must wear it, if he demands that it should be acknowledged and respected, and the pomp and glare of royalty is, it seems, easily veiled.  Besides, I would not have acted otherwise, had I known who it was that dared intrude upon me.”

“I am convinced of that,” said Frederick, smiling.  “You are a queen who has but small consideration for the little King of Prussia, because he requires so many agents to impress the gold from the pockets of his unwilling subjects.  You are right—­my agents cost me much money, and bring small tribute, while yours cost nothing and yield a rich harvest.  Come, signora, your assessors must enter upon their duties.”

He nodded to Baron Swartz, who stood in the corridor, and said in German, “The signora will dance; she must be received with respect and treated with consideration.”  He gave a light greeting to Barbarina and returned to the saloon, where he found the last act of the drama just concluded.

Every eye was fixed upon the king as he entered.  He had left the room in anger, and the courtiers almost trembled at the thought of his fierce displeasure; but Frederick’s brow was clear, and an expression of peace and quiet was written on his features.  He took his place between the two queens, muttered a few words of explanation to his mother, and bowed smilingly to his wife.  Poor queen! poor Elizabeth Christine! she had the sharp eye of a loving and jealous woman, and she saw in the king’s face what no one, not even Frederick himself, knew.  While every eye was turned upon the stage; while all with breathless rapture gazed upon the marvellous beauty and grace of Barbarina, the queen alone fixed a stolen and trembling glance upon the countenance of her husband.  She saw not that Barbarina, inspired by ambition and passion, was more lovely, more enchanting than before.  Her eyes were fixed upon the face of her husband, now luminous with admiration and delight; she saw his soft smile, and the iron entered her soul.