"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" talks anarchy to me--Why I don't believe in woman suffrage--Characters and doings of women in power 305 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 309 CHAPTER LX THE DAY OF JUDGMENT LOOMS UP