"
She touched a bell--the maid entered.
"My jewel case," she said.
The King crossed to a writing desk and, taking pen and ink, placed them
on the table. Then the maid brought the casket.
From the bottom tray, Mrs. Spencer took a paper and handed it to the
King, who, after a glance, returned it.
"If your Majesty will dictate, I will write," she said.
Slowly, Frederick repeated the confession--and the pen scratched out
line after line on the white page. When it was ended, she passed it
back again to the King, and he read it carefully.
"Sign it, please," he said.
She looked up, with an amused smile.
"With what name?" she asked.
"Your lawful one," said Frederick.
"Madeline Spencer," she answered--and dashed it off.
Then, for the first time since we entered the room, the King looked at
Lotzen. Hitherto, he had ignored him, utterly.
"Witness it," he said sternly.
I smiled--and so did Madeline Spencer. It was the refinement of
retribution.
Without a word or a change of feature, Lotzen obeyed. Then Frederick,
himself, signed it; and, folding it carefully, gave it to me.
"Will Your Majesty graciously pardon the violence I offered you?" Mrs.
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