CHAPTER VI

I AM INVITED TO FRIEDRICHSRUH--BUCHER AND THE PROPOSED “MEMOIRS”--HE DOUBTS WHETHER THE LATTER WILL BE COMPLETED--THE CHIEF--“BÜSCHLEIN” AS BEFORE--THE ANGLO-GERMAN AGREEMENT--THE EMPEROR AND RUSSIA--THREE KINGS IN THEIR NAKEDNESS--BÜSCHLEIN WILL WRITE THE SECRET HISTORY OF OUR TIMES--THE PRINCE GIVES ME IMPORTANT PAPERS TO EXAMINE IN MY ROOM: HIS RESIGNATION IN 1890, A DRAFT OF A CONFIDENTIAL STATEMENT OF THE MOTIVES OF HIS RETIREMENT AND NOTES ON THE ATTITUDE OF THE INDIVIDUAL MINISTERS ON THAT OCCASION--STILL ANOTHER BOOK ON BISMARCK IN VIEW; CORRESPONDENCE ON THE SUBJECT WITH BUCHER AND THE CHIEF HIMSELF; THE PLAN DROPPED--LAST VISIT TO BUCHER IN JANUARY, 1892--HIS DEATH--LAST STAY AT FRIEDRICHSRUH IN MAY, 1893--“GOOD BYE, DEAR OLD FRIEND.” 350

BISMARCK

SOME SECRET PAGES OF HIS HISTORY