[Footnote 37: "One Beringskjold, an infamous, abandoned wretch, capable of every crime or villany, and whom fame declares to be the man who put Peter, the late Emperor of Russia, to death."--_N. W. Wraxall's Private Journal._] [Footnote 38: "Mémoires de mon Temps," p. 60.] [Footnote 39: Reverdil, p. 336.] [Footnote 40: In giving the above account, I have principally followed the reports of the party favourable to the queen dowager, except in those cases where a bias was evident. The fullest account will be found in the "Memoiren von Köller Banner;" but I have also inserted numerous bits from pamphlets, though I did not deem it necessary to quote my authority in each case.] CHAPTER V. SHARING THE SPOIL. ARREST OF STRUENSEE AND BRANDT--FALCKENSKJOLD'S PRISON--A LADY'S PERILS--CAROLINE MATILDA--A TERRIBLE SCENE--OSTEN'S PERSUASION--ARRIVAL AT KRONBORG--THE QUEEN'S DESPAIR--THE KING IN PUBLIC--POPULAR EXCESSES--REWARDS--GENERAL VON HUTH. Immediately after the signature of the orders, Köller delightedly offered his services in the odious task of arresting Count Struensee. Followed by Captain Malleville, Lieutenants von Eyben and Frank, and a number of soldiers, he proceeded to the rooms occupied by the favourite on the Mezzanine. Before he entered the bedroom, he made the captain promise to kill Struensee in the event of himself (Köller) being shot. But this precaution proved to be quite unnecessary. On seeing the intruder, and hearing that he had orders to arrest him, Struensee asked him if he knew to whom he was speaking, and to whom he was intimating this command. The colonel replied: "Yes; I know very well who you are. You are a count and a cabinet minister; but now you are my prisoner." Struensee requested to see the royal warrant, but as Köller did not possess this, he said: "I cannot show you any written order; but I am answerable with my head that the order to arrest you was given me by the king." Still, the count refused to surrender; so Köller placed his sword-point against his chest, and said very seriously: "I have orders to take you either dead or alive." Struensee sank back, fainting, on a sofa. When he recovered, he asked for a cup of chocolate, which was refused him. The colonel advised him to make haste and get out of the palace before daybreak, as otherwise he could not protect him against the infuriated populace.