“I herewith ask for my discharge, sire!”

“You have it—­go!"[5]

Without saying a word, General von Saldern made a military obeisance, and left the room.

“You go too!” said the king to Gotzkowsky, who had been a silent, involuntary spectator of this scene—­“go and tell my adjutant to send Quintus Icilius to me.”

In a few minutes Major Quintus Icilius entered.  “Go to Hubertsburg with a detachment of infantry and cavalry, and clear out the castle.”

Major Quintus Icilius took good heed not to contradict the king.  He had already, in the antechamber, heard of General von Saldern’s fate, and he was not indisposed to execute the king’s commission.

“Only a hundred thousand dollars you hand over to the Lazaretto, the rest you can keep for yourself.”

“As you command, sire!  Shall I proceed at once?”

The king cast a look of disgust on him.  “Are you in such a hurry to be rich?” said he.  “Go—­I will appoint the time and the hour more particularly."[6]

When the king was alone again, he paced up and down the room in deep thought.  At one time he stopped at the window, and his bright blue eyes were turned mournfully toward heaven.  “Poor fools that we are!” said he, with a sigh.  “We have only a moment to live, and we make this moment as bitter as possible to each other.  We take pleasure in destroying the master-pieces of industry and art, at the same time we are erecting an accursed monument to our own devastation and our cruelty."[7]

[Footnote 1:  “Lettres inedites, ou Correspondance de Frederic II.,” &c., p. 120.]

[Footnote 2:  The king’s own words.]

[Footnote 3:  “Correspondance entre Fred. et M. d’Argens,” vi., p. 228.]

[Footnote 4:  “Life of a Patriotic Merchant,” pp. 85-254.  “The king paid the contribution in fact so quietly, one hardly knew when, where, or how.”—­Preuss’s History of Frederick.]

[Footnote 5:  This interview is historical and literal.  General von Saldern left the army, but after the peace entered it again, with high honor and distinction.—­KUSTRE, “Traits of Saldern,” p. 39.]

[Footnote 6:  Not till May, 1761, was the king’s order carried into execution by Major Q. Icilius, in a most barbarous manner.  The king was apparently satisfied; but when Q. Icilius in 1764 applied for repayment of moneys spent in executing the royal command, the king indorsed on the application—­“My officers steal like crows.  They get nothing.”]

[Footnote 7:  His own words.]

* * * * *

CHAPTER II.

THE WINTER-QUARTERS IN LEIPSIC.