"Queen by heart and mind, but such have weaknesses when they think they act for their daughters' happiness."
"I hope history will not record one single weakness in Maria Theresa," retorted the other.
"Because it does not know what is known solely to your highness, her mother and myself."
"Is there a secret among us three?" sneered the lady. "I must hear it."
"In Schoenbrunn Palace is the Saxony Cabinet, where the empress sits in private. One morning, about seven, the empress not being up, your highness entered this study, and perceived a letter of hers, open, on the writing-table."
The hearer blushed.
"Reading it, your highness took up a pen and struck out the three words beginning it."
"Speak them aloud!"
"'My dear Friend.'"
Marie Antoinette bit her lips as she turned pale.