Pestered to Death. SOd 



from the dishonour of robbing poor tradesmen. I cannot 

 blame them that they perha^ps ascribed to my unwillingness or 

 meanness what was the result of utter incapability to satisfy 

 them, and if they expressed their opinion rather freely. It 

 may be a certain class of people will shrug their shoulders at 

 my unprincely weakness in caring for such things ; but the fact 

 is, that I felt utterly unhappy and wretched ; for to such 

 humiliations I had never yet been subjected. I was in a con- 

 stant fever, for whenever the bell rang I expected another 

 creditor, or when I looked through the window, I saw one 

 standing opposite, watching the house with angry eyes. 

 Madame von Corvin, though sad also because she had just 

 lost her mother, came from Frankfort to Coblentz to comfort 

 me ; she was a witness to my humiliations and my fear, and so 

 was Miss Runkel, who did all she could to press off from me 

 these excited creditors, of whom I was the more afraid the 

 more I was convinced of the justice of their demands. 



I felt certainly great reluctance in applying to His Majesty, 

 who had done already so much for my husband ; but on the 

 other hand I had no other help in this country. 



The Emperor was however still in France, and the clamour- 

 ing creditors were at my door. Prompt action was required. 

 Under these circumstances, I remembered a man with whom 

 I had become acquainted during the war, and who had made 

 on me the impression of being a good and noble feeling man, 

 — Edward Oppenheim, the great banker of Cologne. Repre- 

 senting to him the situation in which I was placed, I requested 

 from him a loan of two thousand thalers, which were sufficient 

 to satisfy the most urgent necessities. The Baron responded 

 to my confidence in the most amiable manner. 



When the Emperor returned to Berlin I went there, accom- 

 panied by Miss Runkel. Colonel von Corvin not having re- 

 turned from France Madame Corvin had not yet taken another 

 home, but was living herself in lodgings, where there was no 

 room for me and Miss Runkel ; I had therefore to go to an 

 hotel. 



On my request, Count Lehndorf, the aide-de-camp of His 

 Majesty, called on me, and making him acquainted with the 

 object of my visit to Berlin, I requested him to procure for me 

 a private audience with the Emperor. 



This audience was graciously granted, and I shall always 



