“But that can be remedied in the fifth edition,” I replied. “You were thinking of doing so the last time I had the honour of speaking to you on the subject. You can give me additions, for instance what you have said on various occasions respecting the Pope and the Catholics.” “I would not recommend that now,” he replied, “in your interest and in mine. The indignation aroused by the book has now subsided, and anything of the kind would revive the discussion of the whole subject in the entire press.” I observed: “The book has also been praised by papers of high standing in Germany, and more particularly in England and America. _The Times_ published three long articles on it, and it has been described as a eulogy, but one which is based solely upon truth.” “Yes, in England,” he said; “but here at home, that is the main point.” I continued: “And then I have not given merely conversations, but also newspaper articles which contained not my ideas but yours. I am heartily sorry that it has injured you. I was pleased with everything you said. I am quite indifferent to what people say about myself. Every word of abuse was an advertisement. I do not care for the esteem of our journalists or of those who accept their views. I have no fear, because I have no hope.” “No hope?” he asked, as if he had not quite understood me. “Yes, Serene Highness,” I replied; “no hope--that is to say, I am not ambitious and have no personal aspirations. I do my duty as I understand it. For the rest, I hold to the principle which has been described as the ninth beatitude: Blessed is he that expecteth nothing, for he shall not be disappointed. I know too that I am not what they, in their envy and wounded vanity, describe me to be. And finally, in issuing this book I have not depended at all upon my own judgment, but submitted it to you before it was printed.” “That is true,” he replied; “but out of consideration for you I did not strike out as much as I ought to have done. Arrangements had already been made, and a good deal of it was printed. It would have lost in interest if much had been omitted, and I did not wish to diminish your success.” “I thank your Serene Highness for that,” I said. “But I have myself also left out a great deal of what appeared to me to be questionable matter respecting princely personages, the Emperor and others. One passage which some people think refers to the Emperor was overlooked. I myself had not thought of him in giving the passage.” He asked: “Why, what was that?” I replied: “That in which the flags are referred to which were not mentioned in the treaty and which they afterward desired to have delivered up--the Parisian flags, Serene Highness.”