Towards the end of November, 1878, I informed the Chief that if he desired to see any additions made to portions of the book an opportunity would be afforded by the preparation of the third edition which the publisher had in view. I concluded this letter with the words: “If I have left unanswered the gross falsehoods that have been circulated respecting the book and its author by a portion of the German press, and do not intend in future to make any reply, however sharply I may be attacked, I trust I may flatter myself that I am acting in accordance with your wishes. If I have not deceived myself in this respect, all these insinuations and insults are a matter of indifference to me, particularly as I see from the better German newspapers, as well as from _The Times_ and the _Perseveranza_, that my intention that the book should be of service to you has in the main been realised.” If it were no longer intended to extend certain portions of the work, this letter required no answer, and as none came I took it for granted that the intention referred to had been renounced. We now proceeded to reorganise the _Grenzboten_, and I wrote several articles for it, strongly supporting the Customs policy of the Imperial Chancellor, and opposing equally strongly the champions of unqualified free-trade; being actively assisted by Bucher with verbal and written advice. On the 15th of January, 1879, however, I applied directly to the Chief himself for further information, and received the following letter, dated the 15th, from his younger son:-- “My dear Sir,--In reply to your friendly letter of the 10th instant, I have the honour, as instructed by my father, to inform you that he is just now very much occupied, and regrets being unable to spare time for an interview with you. “He hopes, however, that this load of work will shortly be reduced, and he will then be very pleased to see you. “With profoundest esteem, “Your very devoted, “Count W. Bismarck.” On the 23rd of February the Prince sent me word to call upon him next day, when I had an interview with him extending from 2.45 to 3.45 P.M., which was in many respects very remarkable. Theiss announced my arrival and Mantey showed me out. The Chancellor looked very well and was friendly, as he always is. He came a few steps to meet me, gave me his hand and asked, smiling: “Well, are you still of opinion that you have done me a service with the book?” “Yes, Serene Highness,” I replied, “with all right minded and sensible people.”