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person must.

Two or three weeks passed and still he had not found what he must have. He

had artfully questioned the servants and although they were ready to admit that

the Princess’s conduct was very strange, no one could actually say that he or she had tangible evidence of misconduct.

Caroline left with her household for the Villa d’Este and d’Ompteda followed

them there. After all his present business lay with Caroline. It was ridiculous. It seemed to him so obvious but where could he find the tangible evidence he

sought?

She was free and easy in her manners. She had been to a ball, during her

journey through Italy, dressed as Venus— naked from the waist. This had

shocked many but she had danced merrily with numerous men in her semi-nude

condition. She was immensely proud of her bosom and saw no reason why she

should hide her greatest beauty. There was a great deal of gossip about that

costume; there was talk about the manner in which she rode about the town, how

she would now and then cook a meal and sup alone with Pergami; how he was

allowed to talk to her when she was in the bath; how when he was ill she had

made him a posset and sat on his bed talking to him, that she had been alone in

the bedroom for some time and was still sitting on the bed when servants entered

the room.

All this— but it was not optical evidence. And that was what he must find.

Quite clearly he must enlist the help of her household and he looked round for

suitable people.

First there was the manservant, Theodore Majocchi. He had discovered that

before he came to serve the Princess he had worked for Count Pino and had been

dismissed from his household for stealing. Perhaps a bribe would tempt him.

Maurice Credé was perhaps a better subject because he was in a higher

position and would be easier to talk to. He had seen that Credé was an ambitious

man; he was rather fond of the woman, it was true, and was actually conducting a

liaison with one of the women. That might be useful. The woman might have easy

access to the Princess’s sleeping apartments.

He would keep his eyes on the woman named Annette and there was another

who seemed more intelligent, Louise Dermont.

He had selected his tools; now he would get to work. The Princess was

leaving for the East in a week or so. He must get evidence before she left because, through Lord Stewart, he was being made aware of the Regent’s impatience.

He encountered Maurice Credé in the grounds of the Villa d’Este and told him

that he wished to speak to him secretly. Credé looked surprised that such an

important person as the Baron should wish for his company, but as he was

ambitious and always looking for advancement he was flattered.

‘If you would come to my room, my lord Baron, we could talk there in

comfort.’

Shortly afterwards the Baron went to Credé’s room where he found the young

man waiting.

‘You must have a great deal of information as to how life goes on in the

Villa,’ began the Baron with a faint leer.

‘My lord?’

‘The Princess is rather free in her manners, is she not? I

mean there must

be few secrets which are known to the members of her household.’

‘The Princess is a very friendly lady. She is kind and generous to us all.’

‘I don’t doubt that she pays you well to keep her secrets.’

‘I do not understand.’

The Baron laughed.

‘Well scarcely secrets. Who does not know that Pergami is her lover?’

Credé looked startled. ‘I cannot say—’

‘Can you not? Is it not obvious. Is he not in and out of her bedroom and she in

and out of his? Is he not present when she takes a bath— even alone with her? Oh

come, my friend, you are not so innocent as to suppose there is nothing in their

relationship but that between a princess and her chamberlain.’

‘I do not understand what you want of me.’

‘Then I will tell you. I want evidence of the Princess’s misconduct with

Pergami.’

‘From me, my—’

‘I mean to get it

with your help.’

‘But how—’

‘There are keys to the Princess’s apartments. I want these keys. I want to have

a witness in her bedroom who can testify to her misconduct.’

‘Who are you?’

‘That is no concern of yours. You will get those keys for me, and be paid well

for your work. Not only will you be paid but the work you do for me can bring

you recognition in high places.’

‘I— I cannot do this,’ stammered Credé.

‘You are a fool. Why not?’

‘The Princess has been a good mistress to me.’

‘You will find even better masters.’

‘I am sorry. You must look elsewhere for your— accomplices.’

‘And you— like the good faithful servant you are, will consider it your duty

to report this conversation to your mistress ?’

‘I— I—’

‘Ah, you hesitate! You show wisdom at last. I have been discovering certain

details about you, my dear Credé. There have been little adventures with one of

the women here. Little Annette is charming, charming— I agree with you. And

there have been too many kisses in dark corners, too much scurrying along

corridors in the dead of night. You see, your honour extends only in certain

directions. I should see you not want to have to disillusion those who have a high opinion of you but—’

‘You mean you will betray me if I do not work with you, if I do not get those

keys?’

D’Ompteda nodded slowly.

————————

‘You have the keys?’ asked d’Ompteda.

‘Not yet,’ replied Credé. ‘I must await my opportunity.’

‘You fool. She sails in two days’ time.’

‘That is what makes it so difficult. In any case, Pergami is scarcely ever in her apartments. He is so busy arranging for the departure of the Leviathan.’

Frustration!
groaned d’Ompteda. Angry reprimands from London, through

Hanover. With all this gossip why was it so difficult to provide what was wanted?

It should be simple.

There was talk of nothing in the Villa other than of the Princess’s imminent

departure.

We shall have to wait now for her return,
thought d’Ompteda.

————————

Caroline was excited. Nothing was so entrancing as the prospect of seeing

new lands.

‘If I cannot have children. I will have travel,’ she announced. She was sorry

that so many of her English suite had not wished to accompany her. It was not

that they were afraid of dangers from pirates and bandits— and this was by, no

means an uncertainty— but they were afraid of being called upon by the Prince

Regent to give evidence against her. The fact made her laugh and determine to

give them as much cause for suspicion as possible

Pergami was faithful.
Dear, dear man!
she thought. He was one whom she

could trust; and she had engaged his sister, who called herself Countess Oldi, as one of her ladies-in-waiting. She was already fond of the Countess who however

was very respectable and inclined to exclaim in surprise at the Princess’s antics.

But she was Pergami’s sister and that was recommendation enough for her. Little

Vittorina was to come, dear child; and she and Willikin would be as her own two

children. Dr. Holland, her English doctor had left and in his place she had

engaged Dr. Mochetti, a most charming Italian There was one Englishman who

had joined her suite. He was Captain Robert Hownam and she had engaged him

as her private secretary.

Well, it was a happy little company and what did she care if there were few

English among them. The Italians were charming and her friends.

She took an affectionate farewell of Baron d’Ompteda and told him that she

hoped he would not stop visiting the Villa d’Este during her absence. She was

leaving some servants behind and they would care for him.

He accepted the offer with gratitude, he would certainly take advantage of it!

During the time she was away he would have to make a plan so that as soon as

she returned he could put it into action And so Caroline sailed away on the

Levzathan to Sicily first and there was a short stay in Messma And after that they would sail to Tunis, Malta and Athens.

Louise Demont, whom she had brought with her, told her she was writing an

account of the journey for she believed few princesses would have made it before.

‘How terrified I am, Your. Highness, that we shall be set upon by bandits in

some of these strange places. And what if pirates boarded us!’

The Princess laughed. ‘I doubt not that I should be able to persuade them not

to harm us.’

‘Your Highness can be most persuasive.’

‘You must let me read your account of the journey.’

‘If Your Highness would so honour me—’

Caroline read, the accounts which Louise wrote every day and found them

interesting. She walked the decks with Pergami and chatted freely with the

sailors. She ordered Pergami to arrange for balls on board which he did and she

danced with all the men in turn.

There never was such a princess, was the comment.

And many of them believed the stories they had heard of her.

There were occasions when her suite was in fear of their lives; she was the

only one who seemed unafraid. She thrived on adventure.

When she reached Tunis, she was welcomed by the Bey and settled down to

enjoy a pleasant stay there. For, she commented to Countess Oldi, ‘I find these

barbarians less barbarous than some Christians I have known.’

The Bey sent her the finest Arab horses and she made up her mind that she

would stay for some time in his pleasant land.

But this happy sojourn was interrupted by the arrival of the Dutch and English

fleets. The pirates whose head quarters were in Tunis had been intercepting too

many Dutch and British ships and the fleets of these countries had come to

demand a settlement.

In the pleasant villa which had been at her disposal Caroline received a visit

from Admiral Lord Exmouth who explained the situation to her.

‘I’m not afraid of a little conflict,’ Caroline told him.

‘But, Your Highness,’ the Admiral replied, ‘it would not be possible for you

to remain here while these er— negotiations are going on.’

‘Why not?’

‘There could be trouble.’

‘The Bey is my good friend.’

‘Today, Madam, but perhaps not tomorrow. I have orders to ensure your

departure.’

She argued but it was no use. Her suite were decidedly nervous and for their

sake she gave in. Pergami persuaded her to do so.

‘It is wisest, Your Highness,’ he said

‘I always do as you say, my dear,’ she answered.

So from Tunis to Athens and on to Turkey and Constantinople. The stay there

was brief owing to an outbreak of plague, and her entourage was by this time

longing for the return to Como; and when she went to the Pyramids and had to

take with her two hundred soldiers to guard the party as it crossed the desert, even Pergami tried to persuade her end the tour.

But she laughed at them all. Her eyes flashed with excitement. It was long

since she had been so pleased with life.

‘At last,’ she cried, ‘I am doing what I want.’

Poor Willikin was beside her in all her travels. He was too young to realize

the dangers through which they passed and seemed to have a blind faith in her.

She was the Princess whom nothing could harm and as long as he was close to

her, he was safe.

And after Cairo, Nazareth where she decided to found an Order of

Knighthood. She called this The Order of St. Catherine of Jerusalem; it was to

recompense those who had been with her on her pilgrimage to the Holy Land.

Pergami received the Order, so did Willikin and so did her secretary Hownam.

She must of course visit Jericho and after that started on the return journey.,

By the end of October 1816, she was back in the Villa d’Este.

————————

It was good to be back in the Villa. She called Maurice Credé to her and asked

if all had been well during her absence.

‘Very well, Your Highness,’ he told her.

‘You look a little sombre,’ she told him. ‘Is everything going well with you?’

‘Very well, Your Highness.’

‘Well, I trust you are pleased to see me back.’

Credé bowed. It was her way of talking. And how foolish it was and how it

gave her enemies the chance to do what had been bribed to do.

Pergami went about the house to assure himself that everything was in order,

and in Credé’s apartments he was surprised to find an extra set of keys.

He examined them closely and ascertained that they were a copy of the keys

to the Villa. Now for what purpose should Credé provide himself with an extra set of keys? He could ask Credé. But if he did, that would put him on his guard. No,

he would do no such thing. Instead he would watch Credé.

Pergami had long been aware that the Princess was under observation. He was

her chamberlain and it was his duty to protect her. He was going to find out what Credé was doing with that set of keys.

He did not at this stage mention the affair to Caroline. She was so indiscreet

and he imagined what her reaction would be. She would declare that Credé was a

very good servant and she refused to harbour any suspicions towards him. He,

Pergami, would watch Credé.

He soon discovered that he was leaving his room at night and prowling about