We were all at tea when the message arrived,
and I at once wished to go, but my father-in-law
absolutely forbade it, and said in a contemp-
tuous, jeering way, "Let the rat die."

I resented this cruelty to a dying girl even
more than anything he had ever done to me,
because I felt that I was only doing my duty in
going to any of my people who needed me, or
my help, in sickness or trouble. I hope the poor
child understood before she died how much I
wanted to be with her, and how often she was
in my thoughts that evening.
After her accusation, Frau von Fritsch sent
privately for M. Giron and tried to entrap him
into an admission of affection for me. He was
furious and demanded to face his calumniators.
Nothing would induce him to remain at the
Court, and he told my husband that tugent
family business recalled him to Brussels.
Frau von Fritsch at once went to my father-
in-law, and begged him to prevent M. Giron
leaving Dresden, for no other reason, I think,
than that his departure would effectually crush
all hopes of my downfall. Naturally the King
was disturbed at the turn of events, and he
asked me to try and induce the tutor to recon-



240 MY OWN STORY

sider his decision; but M. Giron was obdurate,
and left Dresden early in November, 1902.
What penances my father-in-law performed
to quiet his uneasy conscience I know not, but
doubtless the souls in Purgatory had many extra
Masses said for them, and as the Court priests
pocketed five marks for each Mass I imagine
they were not deeply disturbed at our family
differences.
