othing that Ludwig could do
could prevent the affair becoming public property. As a result, it
formed the basis of innumerable articles in the press of Europe, and
the worst possible construction was put on it.

The erudite Dr. Doellinger, between whom and Lola Montez no love was
lost, was much upset by the situation and wrote a long letter on the
subject:

The existing ministry were fully awake to the encroachments
of the notorious Lola Montez; and in view of the destruction
which menaced both the throne and the country, they secretly
resolved to address a petition to Ludwig I, humbly praying
him to dismiss his favourite, and setting forth the grounds
on which they based their request.

Rumours of this business soon got afloat. People began to
whisper; and one fine day a sister of one of the ministers,
goaded by curiosity, discovered the petition. She imparted
the news in the strictest confidence to her most intimate
friends; and they, in their turn, secretly read the
memorial, with the result that, some time after the
important document had been safely restored to its
hiding-place, its contents appeared, nobody knew how, in the
newspapers.

The panic of the ministers was great; the King's displeasure
was still greater. He suspected treachery, and considered
the publication of such a petition treasonable.
Remonstrances were of no avail; the ministers were
dismissed, and their adherents fled in every direction. I,
who had been nominated a member of the Chamber by the
University, but against my will, had to resign office at the
bidding of the King. His Majesty was greatly incensed, and
meanwhile the excited populace were assembling in crowds
before the house of Lola Montez.

Doellinger was a difficult man to cross. He had doubts--serious
doubts--concerning a number of matters. Among them was one of the
infallibility of the Pope. What was more, he was daring enough to
express these doubts. The wrath of the Vatican could only be appeased
by ex-communicating him from the Church. He, however, added to his
contumacy by surviving until his ninety-second year.

IV

Appreciating on which side its bread was buttered, the new ministry
had no qualms as to the eligibility of Lola Montez for the honour of a
coronet in the Bavarian peerage. This having been granted her, the
next step was to select