"Her Imperial Highness is indulging in a dangerous flirtation with Baron Bergen," she advised the King. "They must be separated at once lest that exemplary young man fall victim to her seductive wiles. I beseech Your Majesty to order the Crown Princess to Pillnitz and put a stop to her most reprehensible conduct." Hence the royal command to proceed to Pillnitz without a moment's delay. "The King and Prince George deem your honor unsafe unless you are under their watchful eyes," she had the effrontery to tell me. She drew a key from her pocket and opened one of the bedroom doors. With her hand on the knob, she said, bowing formally: "By Your Imperial Highness's leave, I will keep the _Portebonheur_ to use in case you are ever tempted again 'to throw me out of doors like a thieving lackey!'" A low bow, a sarcastic smile,--my executioner was gone. And I broke some priceless bric-a-brac, stamped my foot on the pearl necklace Frederick Augustus had given me, tore three or four lace handkerchiefs and stuffed the rags in my mouth to prevent me from crying aloud. * * * * * PILLNITZ, _May 27, 1901_. Lucretia finished the Tisch's report. The good soul hadn't had the courage to tell me before, but now that the Grand Mistress had spoken, considerations of delicacy no longer stood in the way. What a judge of character I am, to be sure: Henry, whom I raised from obscurity, whom I befriended, loved, advanced, rescued from the hands of usurers--a traitor, pshaw, worse,--I cannot write down the word, but it's in my mind. Henry, who hadn't the time to take leave from me, devoted an hour to the Tisch before he went away with the Vitzthums. He told her all and gave her his word of honor--the honor of a man who accepted money from the woman weak enough to love him--that, first, he would never see me again of his own accord and would reject both my entreaties and commands; secondly, that he would petition to be transferred to a distant garrison to be out of the path of temptation; thirdly, that he would burn my letters. The Tisch, on her part, promised to tell the King only half the truth--not for my sake, of course, but to shield her dear, seduced young relative. 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_. PILLNITZ, _May 28, 1901_. Though I am in delicate health, the King, having recovered from his illness, commanded me to do penance,--almost public penance. Fast and pray, pray and fast is the order of the day for the next two weeks.