Because they were swayed by the male of the species, of course! Though the characters of the world's female sovereigns differed as to blood, race, education, environment and personal traits, neither showed any inclination to resist the allurements of irregular _amours_. Think of Semiramis, of Mary of Scots, of Elizabeth, Catherine I, of the Tsaritzas Elizabeth and the second Catherine--under the temptations of Power, they recruited paramours for themselves in all ranks of society. Agrippina was more licentious than Caligula; Messalina's infamy surpassed Nero's, and the furthest reaching, the one irresistible Power swaying them all was MAN. Augustus of the three hundred and fifty-four emphasized this in the negative and, in his own uncouth way, by "postering" the Countess Cosel's chief charm on penny coins. "She cost Saxony twenty millions in gold--behold the penny's worth she gave in return." When the beauty who had brought the richest German kingdom to the verge of state bankruptcy died February 2, 1765, four hundred of Augustus's infamous medals were found hidden in her favorite armchair. She paid three or four times their weight in gold for each. CHAPTER LIX THE PEOPLE THINK ME A WANTON Credit me with innumerable lovers, but don't disapprove--Glad the King feels scandalized--Picture of the "she-monster"--Everybody eager for love--I delight in Richard's jealousy--Husband's indelicate announcement at table--I rush from the royal opera to see my lover--A threatening dream--Richard not mercenary like my noble lovers. DRESDEN, _August 10, 1902_. This is the kind of speech Richard holds with me and--I enjoy: "Every working-girl, every poor woman who suckles her own children and helps her husband in the fight for existence, stands mountain high above royal ladies like you. "None of you royal ladies are their moral equals. "In no distant time," he says, "they will chase you from your thrones, even as your relatives had to evacuate France by tumbril, post-chaise or train." Richard's ethical and intellectual valuation of royal princes coincides with my own. He has rare insight into our family life. However, these disclosures both amazed and alarmed me when I first heard them pronounced. I never dreamt that opinions of that kind prevailed among the masses. "But why am I acclaimed whenever I show myself?" "Because you are pretty, because you impersonate the one thing all are desirous to embrace: affluence, kindness, youth and beauty. Because you are a treat to the senses and because sensuality is the paramount thing in life, whether we admit it or not." "Who's 'we'?" "Kings and anarchists, princesses of the Blood and laundresses, royal princes and cab drivers, empresses, street-walkers, society ladies, big-wigs and _sabretasches_. The draggled Menads and the helpful Lafayette, the Jacobins, Charlotte Corday and the man she killed--all were, and are, on similar pleasure bent."