The Imperial Silverware display in Vienna’s Hofburg palace leads straight onto the tour of the emperor’s apartments. Was it any wonder that I immediately connected the two?

The Emperor looked up from the dinner table, visibly irritated. “There appears to be some commotion,” he observed to his head butler, who was hovering – as usual – in the shadows,

“I believe, Your Majesty, that one of the serving girls has just been caught trying to steal a piece of the silverware that she was clearing from the banquet.”

“Then they’d better bring her in, so that we may see her punished. I presume you will deal with her for me?”

“I have already sent to the Riding School for a whip, Your Majesty.”

The girl was dragged into the room, and bent over a chair. The assembled gentlemen turned to watch, as the butler took up the crop. She squealed as he started to lay on the whipping – wriggling as if to get away, staying in position mindful of the further thrashing she would doubtless receive if she did.

Six strokes marked their way across her skirt, before the butler told her to stand.

A deep voice boomed across the room – the Emperor: “And when, pray, are you going to start punishing her properly?” There was a pause, a confused silence, before he continued. “The girls who work here need to understand the severity of stealing from the imperial family.”

“Yes, Your Majesty. Would you like me to continue her thrashing?”

The Emperor looked at the girl, as if weighing the conflicting courses of discipline and mercy. “No, I don’t think I would.”

But if the girl looked relieved, it was only for a moment, as he continued: “You shall take her to my chambers and I will whip her personally. Strip her, wash her, and have her tied tightly over my desk. And send a footman out into the gardens; have him cut six switches from one of the birch trees, and tie them firmly together. I intend to make something of an example out of young… what was your name?”

“Charlotte, sir.”

“Yes, Charlotte.” The emperor looked around the table. “I really must apologise for this most unfortunate incident.” He clapped his hands: “Well, what are you waiting for? Take her away and prepare her to be punished. And meanwhile: pour us some more wine – my guests are dying of thirst.”