"No woman ever admits the truth, of course," sneered the Emperor. "I consider you a disgrace to the Dresden Court."
"So this is the manner in which you openly insult your guests!" was the Princess's bitter retort. "You, who believe yourself the idol of your people, now exhibit yourself in your true light as the traducer of a defenceless woman!"
"How dare you utter those words to me!" cried the All-Highest One, in fury.
"I dare defend myself—even though you may be Emperor," replied Luisa, in a cold, hard tone of defiance. "I repeat that your allegations are untrue, and that you have no right to make them. Surely you can see that my enemies, headed by the King of Saxony, are all conspiring to effect my downfall. I know it! I have written proof of it!"
"Bosh! You say that because you know that the statements are true!"
"You lie!" she cried fiercely. "They are not true. You cannot prove them."
"Very well," answered the Emperor in that tone of cold determination that I knew too well. "I will prove the charges to my entire satisfaction."
I was startled at the manner in which the Princess had dared to call the Emperor a liar. Surely nobody had ever done so before.
I drew a long breath, for as I crept away unseen I recollected the Kaiser's unrelenting vindictiveness.
Poor Princess! I knew that the red talons of the Hohenzollern eagle would sooner or later be laid heavily upon her.