But there were too many stories and they were
so unspeakable that even those in high places were made furiously
indignant. He was not received here at Court afterwards. His own
emperor could not condone what he did. Public opinion was too
strong."
"The stories were true," answered the hoarse low voice. "I myself,
by royal command, was a guest at the Schloss in the Bavarian Alps
when it was known that he struck her repeatedly with a dog whip.
She was going to have a child. One night I was wandering in the
park in misery and I heard shrieks which sent me in mad search.
I do not know what I should have done if I had succeeded, but I
tried to force an entrance into the wing from which the shrieks
came. I was met and stopped almost by open violence. The sounds
ceased. She died a week later. But the most experienced lying could
not hide some things. Even royal menials may have human blood in
their veins. It was known that there were hideous marks on her
little dead body."
"We heard. We heard," whispered the Duchess.
"He killed her. But she would have died of horror if he had not
struck her a blow. She began to die from the hour the marriage
was forced upon her. I saw that when she was with him at Windsor."
"You were in attendance on him," the Duchess said after a little
silence. "That was when I first knew you."
"Yes." She had added the last sentence gravely and his reply was
as grave though his voice was still hoarse.
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