The Prince spoke so violently that Maria laid her hand on his arm.

“Pray, Sire, try to be calm,” she pleaded. “No good will come of upsetting yourself in such a manner. Has His Majesty really refused everything, even an increase in your allowance?”

The Prince brought a letter from his pocket.

“See for yourself. I shall show it to everyone, I shall publish it if necessary. They shall read how inhuman a father can be.”

There was silence as Maria read the letter.

Then with tears in her eyes she said,

“I am afraid, Sire, that I am to blame in this. I knew when you put down so honestly the sum of fifty-four thousand pounds for the jewellery, plate and furniture that you have given me and spent on this house that His Majesty would be incensed.”

“He has made that an excuse,” the Prince came back. “He had no intention of paying up whatever my debts had been. He has always been the same, he has made my life a hell since the day I was born.”

“No, Sire, it is my fault,” Maria sighed.

“I will not have you blame yourself,” the Prince replied.

“If only I had the money to help you,” she murmured.

“I have run you into debt as it is. I am well aware of that, but how can we help it when so many people look to us to lead Society and to make London a place of gaiety rather than a morgue such as can be found at Buckingham House.”

“What will you do?” Maria asked him despairingly.

“Heaven alone knows,” the Prince answered and then he looked across the room at Gretna. “I am glad you have heard all this, little Gretna. Now you see what unhappiness, cruelty and hardness of heart can be inflicted by those who do not love their children.”

“But, Sire, what can you do?” Gretna asked, aghast at the size of the sums of money that she had just listened to.

She knew a great deal about poverty for her father and mother had been poor all their lives, desperately poor. She had seen them afraid when the bills came in and she had seen them worried and anxious as to where the next penny was to come from.

But the Prince’s debts were to her even more terrifying because of their magnitude.

Two hundred and fifty thousand pounds! With the half-year just past there would be bills pouring in and other claims falling due.

“What can I do?” the Prince moaned and it seemed to Gretna that he asked it directly of her.

“There is only one thing that can be done, Sire,” she replied. “You must economise.”

The Prince, who had sunk down despondently in a chair after the last question, sprang to his feet.

“But of course! Why did I not think of it before? We must economise, Maria, but drastically, dramatically and publicly.”