The Imperial Chancellor’s daily life in Friedrichsruh, as at Varzin, was somewhat as follows. In the morning at work at his desk, then, if the weather were fine, a walk or ride, or a drive in the neighbourhood, where the roads are for the most part good, many being kept like public roads. Then luncheon, at two o’clock, with the family, Rottenburg, the secretary, and any guests who might have arrived. During this meal the Chancellor would read his letters and telegrams, and give Rottenburg instructions as to dealing with them. The Prince then retired once more to his study, or, sometimes, he went on a second excursion alone, or with a guest. Dinner was served at 7 o’clock, followed by coffee in the next room, and while the guests smoked their cigars, the Prince retired to the little sofa behind the table, and selected one of the three long porcelain-headed pipes prepared for him. He took little or no part in the conversation of the others, which was mostly carried on in a whisper, but read the papers, including the leading Hamburg journals. He retired after about an hour (instead of coming in to tea, which was served at 10 o’clock), as he now went to bed early. CHAPTER VII I RETURN TO BERLIN AND RENEW MY INTERCOURSE WITH THE CHANCELLOR--THE HISTORY OF MY BOOK--BISMARCK ON THE OPPOSITION OF THE FREE TRADERS AND THE HOSTILITY OF THE NATIONAL LIBERALS--HIS OPINION OF THE EMPEROR AND OF THE CROWN PRINCE AND PRINCESS--HIS INSTRUCTIONS TO ATTACK GORTSCHAKOFF’S POLICY--MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT WHO HAVE NO EXPERIENCE OF REAL LIFE--CONVERSATION WITH VON THILE RESPECTING HIS RETIREMENT--THE TURNING AWAY FROM RUSSIA AND TOWARDS AUSTRIA-HUNGARY--MATERIAL FOR THE HISTORY OF THE ALLIANCE WITH THE AUSTRIANS--THE PRINCE ON THE PARLIAMENTARY FRACTIONS--HE DESCRIBES BÜLOW’S POSSIBLE SUCCESSORS: HATZFELDT, HOHENLOHE, RADOWITZ, SOLMS, WERTHER, AND KEUDELL--THE CHANCELLOR’S REMARKABLE OPINION OF STOSCH--ITALIAN POLITICS--POPE LEO--THE PRINCE ON THE CROWN PRINCE--THE ENVIOUS AND AMBITIOUS IN PARLIAMENT--THE CAUSES OF THE CHANCELLOR CRISIS IN APRIL--KING STEPHAN AGAINST KING WILLIAM--THE NEW MINISTRY IN ENGLAND--DELBRÜCK’S ILLNESS AND THE PRINCE’S OPPONENTS IN THE REICHSTAG--THE CENTRE PARTY DESCRIBED--THORNDIKE RICE’S REQUEST.