Gretna had heard that the Prince was very emotional on occasions, but she had never imagined that he could be so theatrical or so exaggerated whatever his feelings.

“I am finished, finished in every possible way! Now there is nothing more I can do, nothing more I can endure. This is too much to be borne by human flesh and blood!”

“Sire, you must tell me what has occurred,” Maria said firmly and Gretna, suddenly realising that she was staring almost open-mouthed at the Prince, made as if to leave the room.

“Stop, Gretna,” he almost screamed. “Don’t go. I want you to hear as well how I am treated.”

“Is it – the King?” Maria asked quietly.

“It is indeed,” the Prince replied. “Who else would wish to humiliate me in front of my friends and advisers? Once again I have fallen into the trap. Once again I believed that he would really do something for me.”

“Then he has refused to pay your debts?” Maria said, obviously suddenly becoming aware of what all this was about.

“Yes, he has refused!” the Prince answered. “Refused after all this time, after all these negotiations. You know the position I am in. The Jews will advance no more, the moneylenders and the tradesmen are so importunate that if nothing is done at once, at once I tell you, the bailiffs will enter Carlton House.”

“I know all this,” Maria remarked. “But I believed and I prayed that Mr. Pitt would succeed in getting at least a portion of the two hundred and fifty thousand pounds Your Royal Highness needs.”

“A portion!” the Prince exclaimed “I am to have nothing, nothing, unless,” he paused “unless I cease to be a party man and marry.”

Maria put her hands up to her face.

“Oh, no, not that,” she whispered.

“That is what my father the King says. And you know as well as I do why he says it. He hates me. He has always hated me.”

He brought his fist down on the mantelshelf so fiercely that the china ornaments seemed likely to leap onto the hearth.

“But I was persuaded, as Mr. Sheridan and Mr. Fox were persuaded too, that His Majesty would help you this time,” Maria pointed out.

“He promised to consider the matter, did he not? I would not have given him a detailed statement of my liabilities unless Mr. Pitt had assured me that he really intended to help me this time.”

Maria sighed.

“I am afraid that His Majesty asked for a detailed statement just because he wanted to know how and who you had spent your money on.”

“God knows that is true enough!” the Prince answered. “It is all part and parcel of his attempt to set me down and make me appear a dissolute waster. That is what he wants me to be. That is what he does his best to enforce. But I will not tolerate such trickery and double dealing!”