HAND, I DEMAND AN EXPLANATION

An insolent Grand Mistress, but of wonderful courage--Imprisonment,
threats to kill have no effect on her--Disregards
my titles--My lover's souvenir and endearing
words--How she caused Henry to leave me--My paroxysms
of rage--Henry's complete betrayal of me 273

CHAPTER LIV

FORCED TO DO PENANCE LIKE A TRAPPIST-MONK

"By the King's orders"--I submit for the sake of my children--Must
fast as well as pray--In delicate health, I insist
upon returning to Dresden--Bernhardt, to avoid
being maltreated by King, threatens him with his sword--The
King's awful wrath--Bernhardt prisoner in Nossen--I
escape, temporarily, protracted _ennui_ 279

CHAPTER LV

FRANCIS JOSEPH JOINS MY SAXON ENEMIES

Cuts me dead before whole family--Everybody talks over
my head at dinner--I refuse to attend more court festivities--Husband
protests because I won't stand for insult
from Emperor--I give rein to my contempt for his
family--Hypocrites, despoilers, gamblers, religious maniacs,
brutes--Benign lords to the people, tyrants at home--I
cry for my children like a she-dog whose young
were drowned 285

CHAPTER LVI

I AM DETERMINED TO DO AS I PLEASE

I reject mother's tearful reproaches--I beard Prince George
in his lair despite whining chamberlains--I tell him what
I think of him, and he becomes frightened--Threatens
madhouse--"I dare you to steal my children"--I win my
point--and the children--"Her Imperial Highness regrets"--Lots
of forbidden literature--Precautions against
intriguing Grand Mistress--The affair with Henry--was
it a flower-covered pit to entrap me?--Castle Stolpen
and some of its awful history 291

CHAPTER LVII

I CONFESS TO PAPA

King Albert dies and King George a very sick man--Papa's
good advice--"You will be Queen soon"--A lovely old
man, very much troubled 301

CHAPTER LVIII

MONSIEUR GIRON--RICHARD, THE ARTIST

The King asks me to superintend lessons by M. Giron--A
most fascinating man--His Grecian eyes--He is a painter
as well as a teacher--In love--Careless whether I am
caught in my lover's arms--"Richard