"Doubtless I owe the privileged, almost filial relationship I had with Muhammad V, and later with Hassan II, to my ambition and strong will. During all those years spent at the Palace, I strove to win their affection, to become part of their lives and to make myself indispensible" (Chapter 1, pg. 20.)

"I pricked the end of my thumb with a sharpened bamboo stick to make the blood spurt out, then I mixed sand in the cut to cause an infection and waited, my eyes closed and my heart racing. Death was slow in coming, so I got up after a few minutes" (Chapter 2, pg. 57.)

"With each day that went by, I became increasingly convinced that I would lose my father in tragic circumstances. I couldn't explain the premonition: I just knew it" (Chapter 3, pg. 83.)

"If I still respected Hassan II as my adoptive father, I hated him for...