"Then," said the Countess, "you must either be silent, and thus assure for yourself the King's favour, or else consent to a divorce. The papal nuncio, Monsignor Grimani, is quite friendly towards us; he will secure the divorce in Rome."
"Deliver me from the King's favours; but if you would free me from my wife, I shall be only too thankful to you for it," said the Count.
The Countess was greatly astonished that her son-in-law should so readily give up all chances of the King's favour; but having received his written consent to the divorce, she returned with it to Warsaw. The nuncio wrote to Rome, and Clement XI. ordered the divorce to be granted.
There was thus no longer any objection to Countess Denhoff accompanying the King to Dresden; except, to be sure, that Cosel would be in her way.
In order to get rid of her rival, Countess Denhoff feigned that she lived in continual fear of her, and she incited the King to send her from Pillnitz, so that she would not be able to return to Dresden. Then Flemming helped her, reminding the King that he should take from her his promise of marriage, so that she would not be able to compromise the King. Augustus found he was right, and ordered Count Watzdorf to be written to, to try and obtain that document from Cosel and persuade her to leave Pillnitz.
Cosel was obliged to receive him, knowing that he came on an errand from the King.
"The best proof," said he, "that I wish you well is my coming here. I would like to help you to come to some understanding with the King; but you must show some goodwill, and finish peacefully like Aurore and Teschen."
Cosel blushed.
"Aurore and Teschen," exclaimed she, "were his favourites, while I am his wife. I have his written promise."
Watzdorf laughed.