The officer spurred his horse and rode up to me, questioning me with his eyes. "My orders," I explained. "Then I must escort Your Imperial Highness." "Don't." "Strict orders from my superior officer, Your Imperial Highness," and the gendarmes formed a _cordon_ around my carriage. I was furious. "Send for your commander." The captain of the gendarmes could not be found at once and joined my cavalcade only when we were opposite a living wall of excited people, nearly all of them workmen. "What is Your Imperial Highness's pleasure?" asked the captain, bending down from his horse. "Send your men away instantly." "But the responsibility?" "Rests with me and with me only. Send them away. Every one of them." The mob was watching us. I read suspicion in the eyes of those nearest. The captain gave the sign and the troopers turned their horses' heads, saluting me with their drawn swords. "May I act as Your Imperial Highness's out-rider?" asked the captain in a low voice. "Don't trouble yourself. I command you." The groom had been watching us. I gave the signal and we proceeded at a pace. The rampart of human bodies swung open and lined the sides of the streets. Someone cried: "Three cheers for the Crown Princess," and everyone responded. These Socialists, whom I had been taught to hate and despise, behaved in exemplary style. When I dismissed their tyrants, the gendarmes, they immediately took me under their protection. I am sure anyone daring to insult me, or raise a hand against me, would have fared badly at the hands of his fellows. I was all smiles, bowing right and left. Labor agitators raised their hats to me, mothers offered their children that I might pat their little hand, or lay mine on their head--a veritable triumph! When I drove into the palace yard, the Guards rushed out to do me honor. The Queen, the King and Prince George saluted me from the windows of their apartments. Frederick Augustus embraced me in front of everybody. In short I was made a hero of. I afterwards learned that as soon as the palace knew of the incipient riot, the King sent word to all members of the royal family, ordering them to stay in their apartments. They were even forbidden to show themselves at the windows overlooking the palace square. Learning that I had gone driving, mounted grooms were dispatched in all directions to intercept me. The Tisch, being responsible for the royal children, got the fastest team the court commands and started for the _Bois_. It gave me some satisfaction to observe that I arrived before her. Of course, I never doubted the children's safety. The evening papers devoted columns to the little incident and Prince George had the great sorrow to hear the King say: "A dare-devil, that Louise, but she did the right thing. By pretending confidence in the loyalty of the people, she successfully gulled them. The riot's back was broken when she showed a bold front." CHAPTER XLIV