This story led the Chief to speak of another extraordinary gentleman, a neighbour of his. (Query, in Varzin.) “He had ten or twelve estates, but was always short of ready money, and frequently felt a desire to spend some. When he wished to invite some people to a decent lunch he usually sold an estate, so that at length he had only one or two left. Some of his own tenants bought one of the former lot from him for 35,000 thalers, paying him 5,000 thalers down. They then sold a quantity of timber for shipbuilding purposes, for 22,000 thalers, an idea which, of course, had never occurred to him.” The Minister then referred to the Hartschiere (big tall men, chosen for the Royal Body Guard on account of their size) in Munich, who made a great impression upon him owing to their bulk and general character, and who are understood to be excellent connoisseurs of beer. Finally it was mentioned that Count Bill was the first German to ride into Rouen. Somebody remarked that his appearance would have convinced the inhabitants of that city that our troops had not up to the present been put on short rations. This led the Chancellor to speak again of the strength of his “youngsters.” “They are unusually strong for their age,” he said, “although they have not learnt gymnastics--very much against my desire, but it is not considered the proper thing for the sons of a diplomatist.” While enjoying his after dinner cigar the Chief asked if the members of his staff were smokers. Yes, every one of them, Abeken replied. “Well, then,” said the minister, “Engel must divide the Hamburg cigars amongst them. I have received so many that if the war were to last for twelve months I should still bring some home with me.” _Thursday, December 15th._--Count Frankenberg and Count Lehndorff joined us at dinner, Prince Pless coming in half an hour later. The Chief was in high spirits and very talkative. The conversation at first turned on the question of the day, that is to say, the commencement of the bombardment. The Minister said it might be expected within the next eight or ten days. It would possibly not be very successful during the first weeks, as the Parisians had had time to take precautions against it. Frankenberg said that in Berlin, and particularly in the Reichstag, no subject was so much discussed as the reasons why the bombardment had been postponed up to the present. Everything else gave way to that. The Chief replied; “Yes, but now that Roon has taken the matter in hand something will be done. A thousand ammunition waggons with the necessary teams are on their way here, and it is said that some of the new mortars have arrived. Now that Roon has taken it up something will at last be done.”