On the morning of the 15th of January, Bucher showed me the _Spenersche Zeitung_, with Lasker’s speech on the trade done by Wagner and certain noblemen in railway concessions. In the conversation that followed Bucher observed that Keudell, like other members of our nobility, such as Prince Biron and Prince Putbus, speculated in railways, and that the direct line between ---- (I could not catch the name) and Stargard was generally called the Keudell railway. On the 7th of March Bucher again mentioned “our former esteemed friend and colleague.” Keudell, he said, wanted by hook or by crook to get away from Constantinople and take Balan’s place. That, however, now seemed to have been averted, as the Chief had said he was not a suitable man for the post, and he would also be unwelcome to the higher officials in the office. He would, however, probably be removed to Rome. Furthermore, Keudell had boasted to a landed proprietor in Neumark, where his wife has an estate, that he would one day be Minister or even Imperial Chancellor. (I am inclined to doubt this, as he is not the kind of man to talk about his plans and hopes.) Recently in a circle which included none of the Foreign Office officials, but a number of other officials, amongst others a Councillor of Finance, Aegidi was bragging about his patron’s prospects of obtaining the Secretaryship of State, and prophesied the creation of an Imperial Ministry in which Keudell would have a post. The Financial Councillor shook his head, however, and as Aegidi went on in the same boastful tone, told him plainly that Keudell was not fit for the position of Secretary of State, as he had no political judgment; that he was still less suitable for the Imperial Chancellorship, in which position he would within a month “drive the cart into the ditch”; and that he was about equally unsuitable for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as there he would intrigue with all his might against the Prince. “Aegidi, it seems, was astounded at hearing these views,” said Bucher, in concluding his report. I should observe that Bucher had no reason personally to dislike Keudell. He had suffered nothing at his hands, and had nothing to apprehend from him. He simply loathed his selfishness and love of intrigue, and the impotent conceit with which he flattered himself that he might one day become Imperial Chancellor, whereas he had none of the necessary qualifications for the post. CHAPTER V ARNIM’S HAND--VISIT TO THE PRINCE IN BERLIN--I RECEIVE MY INSTRUCTIONS FOR A PRESS CAMPAIGN AGAINST THE EMPRESS AUGUSTA--THE “FRICTION ARTICLES” IN THE “GRENZBOTEN”--VISITS AT VARZIN, SCHOENHAUSEN AND FRIEDRICHSRUH