The Kaiser was moved: his left arm twitched once or twice. "Your Holiness's words"—he shook his ferocious eyes—"are very grateful to me. But what have I done since—to lose——"
"Majesty, in the English mind, you are incarnate Germany."
"I am Germany."
"It is not Your Majesty whom England distrusts, but the Germans."
"But why, but why?"
"Englishmen say 'It is all very well to dissemble your love but why did you kick me downstairs?' They don't believe in Your Majesty's friendliness because they commit the common error of confounding the particular with the universal. Your Majesty is the scape-goat. They lay upon you the sins of execrable taste on the part of your journalists and of shady diplomacy on the part of your statesmen; and they drive you out into the wilderness."
"Is Your Holiness cognizant of the difficulties which I have to contend with?"
"We are perfectly astounded at the inertia, the stolidity, the volatility, the inconstancy of the material which rulers have to direct, to curb, to shape. We entirely sympathize with Your Majesty in the matter of the difficulties which fill your life. Also, to descend to particulars, We know and approve of your masterly method of dealing with demagogues."
"I am very glad to hear this. I am pleased to know that there is one point on which I can agree with Your Holiness."