In his heyday the Emperor Franz Josef liked to do things on schedule. At 4:30 in the morning three times a week, he arose, put on a well-cut uniform and yards of braid, walked across the gardens of Schonbrunn, slipped out through a secret gate, and presented himself at a little yellow cottage at Gloriette Road No. 9. There he was greeted by the beautiful Katharina Schratt, "Käthi" to His Majesty. Dressed in full court costume, she would bow low, say "Good morning, Colonel," and wave him in. By 6:30 sharp the two...
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