He: “Yes, but that would be inferred from what preceded. And here again, that I drink freely in order to mitigate the weariness of tiresome company. The _Germania_ and the Socialist papers will seize on that and make me out to be a drunkard. And that story about Rechberg. What would he say? Besides, the affair was quite different to the account you give in the first eight or ten lines. It was not he who had given the provocation, but I, and it was he who first spoke of a challenge.”[19] The Prince then came to speak of other matters in the sheets before him which he considered unsuitable for publication, as for instance a passage in the second volume, page 262, of which he remarked: “H’m, ‘That is boiling thought to rags--mere flatulence,’ I know I said that, but everybody must recognise that that applies to the King. And Augusta will read the book--carefully--underline it for him, and comment upon it. Of course I know I had a hard time of it with him at Versailles for whole weeks. I wished to retire, and there was nothing to be done with him. Even now I have often a great deal of trouble with him. One writes an important note or despatch, revises it, rewrites it six or even seven times, and then when he comes to see it he adds things that are entirely unsuitable--the very opposite of what one means and wishes to attain--and what is more, it is not even grammatical. Indeed, one might almost say that the Nobiling affair was a piece of good luck--on account of the Congress. If that had not happened I should not have secured anything at the Congress; for he is always in favour of schemes that will not work, and is wilful and opinionated in maintaining them. Others too in his most intimate _entourage_ have to suffer from this aggravating peculiarity of his which he calls conscientiousness. You should see them when they no longer have to deal with him--they look quite changed, just as if they had returned from a holiday. But the Crown Prince is entirely different.” In reply to my question he then expressed himself favourably respecting the Crown Prince and his Consort. On my leading the conversation on to the Duke of Coburg, the Chief observed: “I have also been obliged to strike out some passages here, as that would cause great offence, seeing that he is the ‘dear uncle.’” He chiefly referred to one or two passages respecting the efforts of his Highness to represent himself as resolute and fearless. In this connection he mentioned the Eckernförde picture, and I related to him the true story of the affair according to Tims’s account. On my observing that the exalted gentleman had no courage whatever he said: “He cannot help that, it’s his nature--but that he should have had himself painted as a hero--a stage hero!”