Karen Heller: A former flame singes Fumo

Oh, to paraphrase the noted philosopher Mel Brooks, it's good to be the prince!

We caught up with Philadelphia's version of nobility, outgoing Democratic State Sen. Vince Fumo, during his federal courthouse appearance - now in its second smash month!

The week began with testimony from former flame Dottie Egrie-Wilcox. Her presence may be why current soulmate Carolyn Zinni did not appear yesterday, her usual day in court.

Perhaps together they're too much drama, even for Fumo, a man who marks all e-mails as high importance, be they of love or Orecks.

Dottie is now raven-tressed, no longer the cool blond of her five-year tempestuous romance with Fumo. Fittingly, given his stature, he called her "Princess." Early in the relationship, he sent her an eight-book library of love, including 10,000 Ways to Say I Love You, The Art and Practice of Loving, and Diana, Princess of Wales: A Tribute.

Later in the relationship, he gave her a gun.

To show his love, he bestowed upon her the ultimate passport into his royal court: a personal Fumoworld e-mail - fas@fumo.com - with fas standing for Francis Albert Sinatra, their little joke. Those messages may ultimately prove part of his undoing.

Dottie kept the e-mails on her hard drive, a tip missing from The Art and Practice of Loving.

Their starry romance, the government hopes to prove, was marked by yachts borrowed from the Independence Seaport Museum, a Senate staff that served as maids and drivers, four-figure shopping trips to Sam's Club, $100-per-gallon Hascolac paint and, on his instruction, an underling hacking into her computer when they were still dating and a private detective tailing her when they weren't.

These expenses, prosecutors argue, were paid for by Fumo's favorite ATM - OPM - Other People's Money. Which seems funny until you realize Other People means You.

Vince has long been dubbed a prince by many. Guess what? He sees himself that way, too.

In 1999, a joyous Vince e-mailed Dottie that he had secured a Cadillac DeVille - about $50,000 when his salary was only $10,000 more - as his "state car."

A friend, he observes, "always says that being a Senator is the next best thing to Royalty! I guess she is right except for the pay! Although in my 21 years in the Senate I only saw one Senator who left because of the salary. He wasn't a lawyer so his outside income was almost zero and he had kids in college and didn't want to steal so he had to leave!"

This may be the most profound and pithy description of life in the Pennsylvania Senate to date.

When it was Christmas, Vince came calling with his own itemized nine-page gift list.

Not what he would give, mind you, but what he wanted loyal subjects to give him. A slave to detail, Vince conveniently listed prices, stores and phone numbers.

The senator was nestled all snug in his bed

While visions of a $12,000 Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso watch danced in his head.

If folks couldn't afford the timepiece, Fumo also requested a $5,000 cannon - what senator should be without? - and a $13 garlic press.

The Vince whom Dottie loved "liked to buy a lot of things. A lot of things. I didn't think it was normal, but for him it was normal. He didn't buy one of something. He bought four."

He lived well but had demons. "Now I am running fears about money. I make a very good living but it is not a secure one and I have been spending like crazy." He ended by writing "I know I will be ok but the fears are real." He described the situation as an unprintable "mess." This was in 1999, when the prince had not a clue that his OPM fairytale might not end happily ever after.