The subject of Stock Exchange speculation was again introduced, and the Chief once more denied the possibility of turning to much account the always very limited knowledge which one may have of political events beforehand. Such events only affect the Bourse afterwards, and the day when that is going to happen cannot be foreseen. “Of course, if one could contrive things so as to produce a fall--but that is dishonourable! Grammont has done so, according to what Russell recently stated. He doubled his fortune in that way. One might almost say that he brought about the war with that object. Moustier also carried on that sort of business--not for himself, but with the fortune of his mistress--and when it was on the point of being discovered, he poisoned himself. One might take advantage of one’s position in a rather less dishonest way by arranging to have the Bourse quotations from all the Stock Exchanges sent off with the political despatches by obliging officials abroad. The political despatches take precedence of the Bourse telegrams, so that one would gain from twenty minutes to half an hour. One would then want a quick-footed Jew to secure this advantage. I know people who have done it. In that way one might earn fifteen hundred to fifteen thousand thalers daily, and in a few years that makes a handsome fortune. But, all the same, it remains ugly; and my son shall not say of me that that was how I made him a rich man. He can become rich in some other way--through speculation with his own property, through the sale of timber, by marriage, or something of the kind. I was much better off before I was made Chancellor than I am now. My grants have ruined me. My affairs have been embarrassed ever since. Previously I regarded myself as a simple country gentleman; now that I, to a certain extent, belong to the peerage, my requirements are increasing and my estates bring me in nothing. As Minister at Frankfurt I always had a balance to my credit, and also in St. Petersburg, where I was not obliged to entertain, and did not.” In the afternoon Friedlander called upon me with an invitation, which I was obliged to decline. Our fat friend knew exactly why the bombardment did not take place. “Blumenthal will not agree to it because the Crown Prince does not want it,” he said; “and behind him are the two Victorias.” So an Artillery officer told him a few days ago. _Addendum._--According to a pencil note which I have now laid hands on, Bohlen remarked yesterday at dinner that he understood many valuable pictures and manuscripts removed by the French from Germany had not been returned. Some one else observed that it would be difficult to put this right now. “Well,” said the Chief, “we could take others of equal value in their stead. We could, for instance, pack up the best of the pictures out of the Gallery here.” “Yes, and sell them to the Americans,” added Bohlen; “they would give us a good price for them.”