Of course, it would come easier with Frederick Augustus's help and support, but since he chooses to be bully-ragged and sat upon and, moreover, finds pleasure in licking the hand that strikes at his and his wife's dignity, I will go it alone. I defy them. * * * * * DRESDEN, _June 16, 1894_. I had another tiff with Frederick Augustus, but the cause is too insignificant to deserve record. I will rather tell about our grand quarrel following Prince George's visit. We dined alone that day, as he was eager to hear the news. The preliminaries didn't excite him much, but when I mentioned the book episode, he bristled up. "You won't allow the King, or Prince George, to dictate what I shall read or not read?" I demanded. "My house is my castle and I won't brook interference in my _menage_." "Do you really suppose," replied Frederick Augustus, "that I'll court royal displeasure for the sake of those Jew-scribblers? I never read a book since I left school and can't make out what interest books can have to you or anyone else. Where did you get them, anyhow?" I told him that Leopold supplied my book wants. "My brother is a very intelligent man," I said, "and the books he gives me are all classics in their way." "Go to with your book-talk!" he mocked in his most contemptuous voice. "I asked the director of the royal library and was told that each of the books, to which father objects, was written by a Jew. Let Jews read them. It isn't decent for a royal princess to do so." "My brother isn't a Jew." "But in utter disgrace in Vienna. No one at court speaks to him. He is head over heels in debt and the next we know he will be borrowing from us. As to those books, don't bring any more into the house. Royal princes and princesses have better things to do than waste time on Jew-scribblers." With that he violently pushed back his chair and left me, a very much enraged woman. He didn't give me the chance to have the last word. CHAPTER XIX ATTEMPTED VIOLENCE DEFEATED BY FIRMNESS Frederick Augustus seeks to carry out his father's brutal threats--Orders and threats before servants--I positively refuse to be ordered about--Frederick Augustus plays Mrs. Lot--Enjoying myself at the theatre. DRESDEN, _June 17, 1894_. The chance came later and with it the conviction that His Royal Highness, Prince George, didn't quite believe me when I told him that I wouldn't stand for violence, for tonight Frederick Augustus attempted something of the sort. I had ordered my carriage for seven o'clock to drive to the theatre, and had just finished dressing when he stormed into my boudoir and demanded to know if I had taken leave of my senses. "Not that I am aware of." "But I hear you intend to go to the theatre--a princess in disgrace going to the theatre!" "Aren't you coming along, Frederick Augustus?" I asked naively. "I have no desire to lose my regiment."