Delbrück praised the son-in-law (Harry Arnim) as being well-informed and intelligent, though unsympathetic and unambitious. This was confirmed by the Chief, who said: “Yes, he is a rocket in which they forgot to put in the powder. He has, however, a good head, but his reports are not the same on any two successive days--often on the same day two thoroughly contradictory views. No reliance can be placed upon him.” Arnim’s lack of ambition led some one to speak of orders and titles, and the Chief said his first decoration was a medal for saving life, which he received for having rescued a servant from drowning. “I was made an ‘Excellency’ at the palace in Königsberg in 1861. I however, already had the title in Frankfurt, only there I was not a Prussian but a Federal Excellency. The German Princes had decided that each Minister to the Diet should have that title. For the matter of that I did not trouble myself much about it--nor afterwards either--I was a distinguished man without it.” _Sunday, November 13th._--The Chancellor, in a general’s uniform and helmet, and wearing several orders, went to-day to dine with the King. As he was leaving, Bohlen said to him: “But you ought to have the ribbon of the Iron Cross in your button-hole.” “It is there already,” replied the Minister. “In other circumstances I should not wear it. I am ashamed before my own sons and many others who have earned it but not got it, while all the loafers at headquarters swagger about with it.” In the evening the Chancellor desired me to send a _démenti_ of a false report published by the Augsburg _Allgemeine Zeitung_, to the effect that Count Arnim paid a visit to headquarters before his departure for Rome. The Chief at the same time remarked: “I have told you more than once that you must not write so violently. Here you are again, speaking of ‘hallucination’ (in correction of an article by Archibald Forbes in the _Daily News_). Why not be civil? I, too, have to be civil. Always this carping, malignant style! You must learn to write differently if you want to work in such a distinguished Foreign Office, or we must make other arrangements. And such a bullying style! Just like Brass, who might have had a brilliant position if he were not so brutal.” “Hallucination” was the word used by the Minister himself; but in future I shall be careful to sift my phrases so as to eliminate all rough words and only let soft ones find their way into the press. Hatzfeldt told me at tea that the Chief had also “carried on awfully” with him, adding that if he remained in such a temper for long he (Hatzfeldt) would think of leaving. The Count will, however, in all probability, take plenty of time to reconsider this matter.