look at Tirpitz, whom he appears next to have asked whether he himself was a tomcat that needed only to be stroked in order to procure sparks to be emitted.  Tirpitz then timidly unfolded his plans and his policy of building big battleships.  Bismarck was critical, and turned his criticism to other matters also.  He denounced as disastrous the abrogation by Caprivi and William the Second of the treaty he (Bismarck) had made with Russia for Reinsurance.  Bismarck declared that, in case of an Anglo-Russian war, our policy was contained in the simple words:  neutrality as regards Russia.  The modest Tirpitz ventured to suggest that only a fleet strong enough to be respected could make Germany worthy of an alliance in the eyes of Russia and other powers.  Bismarck rejected this almost angrily.  The English he thought little of.  If they tried to invade Germany the Landwehr would knock them down with the butt-ends of their rifles.  That a close blockade might knock Germany down never seemed to occur to him.  However, in the end Tirpitz says that the Prince became mollified and expressed agreement with the view that an increased fleet was necessary.

Bismarck then invited the Admiral to go with him for a drive in the forest.  Despite the neuralgia, this drive, which took place amid showers of rain, lasted for two hours.  The carriage, moreover, was open.  There were two bottles of beer, one on the right and the other on the left of the Prince, which they drank on the way, and he smoked his pipe continuously.  “It was not easy to keep pace with his giant constitution.”

For the details of the conversation, which was conducted in English so that the coachman might not understand it, I must refer the reader to the chapter in which it is described.  The old warrior spoke with affection of the Emperor Frederick, but as regarded his son William, he appears to have let himself go.  Tirpitz was to tell the latter that he, Bismarck, only wanted to be let alone, and die in peace.  His task was ended.  He had “no future and no hopes.”

Tirpitz saw Bismarck twice subsequently.  The last time was on the occasion of a surprize visit to him by the Emperor.  This visit was not wholly a success.  The conversation got on to unfortunate lines.  Bismarck began to speak of politics, and the Emperor ignored what he said and did not reply.  The younger Moltke, who was present, whispered to Tirpitz, “It is terrible,” alluding to the Emperor’s want of reverence.  When the Emperor left, his Minister, von Lucanus, who was with him, held out his hand to the old Prince.  But Lucanus had formerly intrigued against him.  Consequently he “sat like a statue, not a muscle moved.  He gazed into the air, and before him Lucanus made gestures in vain.”

All this notwithstanding, Tirpitz seems to have made a good impression.  For after these visits the Bismarck press began to speak favorably of him.

But I must not linger over side issues.  The book is so full of interesting material that in writing about it one has to resolve not to be led away from the vital points by its digressions.  One of these points is that to which I have already made reference in giving the Chancellor’s views about it, the responsibility for what happened in July, 1914, and in particular for the decision taken on the 5th of that month at Potsdam.