"And I will cry from the house-tops that you discovered my relations with Henry only _after_ I had paid his debts, _after_ I had financed his excursions to gambling-houses and to usurers' dens. Ah, I paid his tailors and glove-makers, his board and lodging, his laundry bills. I paid the alimony due his strumpets, and _after_ all was done, _after_ his lieutenantship had again a clean bill of health, financially speaking, then, and not a moment before, did you step in and make an end of the farce, wherein I played the part of 'angel,' or pay-master." The Tisch got visibly smaller under my lash. The air of triumph she bore when entering the room gave way to an expression of despair. If she hadn't sent the letter to the King, I believe she would have given it up after I was half through with her. Once more I hold the whip hand, but what good will it do me since I am condemned to lose the man I love? * * * * * _Midnight._ Richard approved of all I said and did. We were unspeakably happy this afternoon, despite the storm threatening us. I fear neither the King nor Frederick Augustus now, but the fear of Sonnenstein I can't shake off. If the King takes it upon himself to say that I'm mad, there will be plenty of medical authorities to bear him out, none to oppose him. Of course, they will separate me from my children and will do their utmost to drive me mad between now and the time when I should be proclaimed Queen. CHAPTER LXI A MAD HOUSE FOR LOUISE--PROBABLY My confidential maid, Lucretia, is banished--The new King has got the incriminating letter, but Frederick Augustus says nothing--On the eve of judgment the King falls ill. DRESDEN, _October 21, 1902_. This morning, at six, Lucretia rushed into my room. She was in her night-gown. Her hair was loose. No color in her face. And between sobs and curses she told me that she had orders to leave by ten sharp. "If you dare stay over the appointed time, you will be transported to the frontier on foot, between gendarmes." "Von Baumann shall come." I threw a loose wrapper over my night-gown and received him at once. "My marriage contract provides that no one but I have the right of dismissal with respect to Countess Baranello," I said sharply. "As long as the lady keeps within the law," replied Baumann with just a trace of insolence in his voice. I looked at him in astonishment. "The Countess is guilty of a crime, of a succession of crimes," continued Baumann, "but His Majesty, not wishing to be harsh, decided to treat her merely as an obnoxious foreigner. She has forfeited her right to live in Saxony, and will do well to obey." I helped poor Lucretia pack. I gave her a handful of jewels, I paid her a year's salary in advance and ordered the treasury to procure first-class passage for her to Rome. I sent her to the station in my own carriage, and wired to our Rome representative to show her every courtesy.