In 1890, at the Narva maneuvres, I was obliged to describe minutely to the Tsar the retirement of Prince Bismarck. The Tsar listened very attentively. When I had finished, the usually very cool and reserved sovereign, who seldom spoke about politics, spontaneously seized my hand, thanked moe for this token of my confidence, regretted that T had been brought into such a situation and added, in exactly these words: "Jo comprends parfaitement T'a tine action; lo Prince avec toute so grandeur n'était aptes tout tien d'autre que Tom employe on fonctionnaire. Lo moment ow il réfusait d'agir solon Tes ordos, il fallait lo renvoyer,, Moi pour ma part jo me suis toujours méfié de lui, et jo ne lui at jamais cru un mot de ce quil faisait savoir ow me disait lui-memo car j'étais sur et sayals quil me blaguait tout lo temps. Pour les rapports entre nous deux, mon cher Guillaume—(this was the first time that the Tsar so addressed me)—la chute clu Prince aura les meilleures consequences, la méfiance disparaitra. J'ai confidence en Tot. Tu pene te tier a Moi.** I immediately wrote down this important talk at the time it occurred. I am objective enough to ask myself to what extent the courtesy of one ruler to another and possibly, in addition, the satisfaction at the elimination of a ¥*I understand perfectly Thy line of action; the Prince, with all his greatness, was, after all, merely Thy employed or official. As soon as he refused to follow Thy orders, it was necessary to dismiss him. As for Me, I always distrusted him, and I never believed a word of what he had told Me or said to Me himself, for I was sure and knew that he was hoaxing Me all the time. As to the relations between us two, my dear William, the downfall, of the Prince will have the best Lof results; distrust will disappear. have confidence in Thee. Thou const trust Me.'"
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.