“I quite realise the immense honour, but at the same time I am interested in my present work, and am doing so well at the Foreign Office that I should be sorry to relinquish——”
“Are you married?” interrupted the Chancellor.
“Yes, to an English lady.”
“I congratulate you. I believe English women are the best wives and companions in the world.”
Here let it be remarked that Bismarck was a great English scholar. He spoke the language fluently, he read Tom Jones from cover to cover four times, and was never without his Shakespeare in the original, whole pages from which he could quote.
“Go home,” said the Prince; “tell your wife what I have offered you and ask her advice. But mind, if you come to me you will have to be my slave. Where I go you must go, and it is only fair that you should ask her permission. Women should be more considered than they are. Go home, I tell you, and ask your wife.”
ORIGINAL LETTER FROM BISMARCK WITH A TRANSLATION BY HIS INTIMATE FRIEND AND COLLEAGUE DR. VON ROTTENBURG
Still bewildered, flattered but faltering, von Rottenburg went home. He told his wife of his extraordinary interview with the Chancellor, and she at once exclaimed: