CHAPTER V

SIGNS OF FRICTION BETWEEN THE CHANCELLOR AND THE YOUNG EMPEROR--WITH THE CHIEF DURING THE CRISIS--HIS ANXIETY ABOUT HIS PAPERS--HOW TO GET THEM AWAY--HIS RETIREMENT A FACT--THE EMPEROR WANTS TO BE RID OF HIM IN ORDER TO GOVERN ALONE WITH HIS OWN GENIUS--COURT FLUNKEYISM--HIS RETIREMENT IS NOT DUE TO HIS HEALTH, NOR IS IT IN ANY SENSE VOLUNTARY--LETTERS FROM BISMARCK TO WILLIAM I.--THE CHIEF ON THE INITIATION OF PRINCE WILLIAM INTO PUBLIC AFFAIRS--THE GRAND DUKE OF BADEN’S ADVICE TO THE EMPEROR FREDERICK--THE CHIEF TALKS OF WRITING HIS OWN MEMOIRS--BUREAUCRATIC INGRATITUDE--FOREIGN OFFICE APOSTATES--ACCORDING TO BUCHER THE NOTES DICTATED FOR THE MEMOIRS ARE MERE FRAGMENTS, SOMETIMES ERRONEOUS--THE CHIEF’S LIFE AT FRIEDRICHSRUH--SCHWENINGER’S APPREHENSIONS 305