The King, the whole vast assembly, the surrounding splendor were lost on this mutton-eater of a barbarian. He saw only me, _m-e_, ME, and I'm sure would have consigned all the rest to some unspeakable Oriental death for five minutes' _tete-a-tete_ with Louise. "You are neglecting Her Majesty," I whispered to him over and over again. This seemed to enrage him, but at last he turned to the Queen, expecting her to begin a conversation with him. Of course, Her Majesty thought he would take the initiative, which led to mutual staring, the Shah's eyes growing wickeder every second. Then he began to devote himself to the food and, be sure, there was small pleasure in watching him. He fed more like a dog than a human being and actually had the effrontery to wipe his sauce-spattered hands in the lap of my state robe. Then, before his mouth was empty, he began talking again. "Which of the princes is your husband?" I singled out Frederick Augustus. "He isn't a beauty by any means," he said, after examining him like a horse for sale. The next second his eyes were wandering over my body; I felt as if I was being disrobed. "You will attend the opera?" "I'll have the honor." "I will send you a little present after dinner," he said. "If you wear it tonight, I will regard that as a sign of hope." The beast affected a sentimentality to which he must be a stranger. I recalled that he was the monster who carpeted the steps of his throne with the gouged-out eyes of ten thousand enemies of his regime when he was crowned. On twenty-thousand human eyes he trod with naked feet as he acclaimed himself "King of kings" and the "true son of God." And Juggernaut was in love with me! I was speechless. Did he take me for a dancing girl? I narrowed my shoulders and gave him a look of disdain. House Marshal Baron Carlowitz, standing behind the King's chair, took in the situation and whispered to King Albert. The King immediately rose from table and the state dinner came to an abrupt end. An hour later, while I was dressing for the theatre, a big jewel box was handed in. "From the Shah." Despite my disgust with the fellow, I opened it in feverish haste. There was a bracelet set with rubies, sapphires and emeralds of fabulous size. CHAPTER XXIX THE SHAH COMPROMISES ME IN PUBLIC Has only eyes for me at the grand manoeuvres, and I can't drive him from my carriage--Ignores the King and the military spectacle--Calls me his adored one--Court in despair--Shah ruins priceless carpets to make himself a lamb stew. DRESDEN, _December 1, 1894_. I am in disgrace again and that uncouth animal, the Shah, is responsible. The dinner episode was bad enough, but he carried on worse at the grand parade next day.