Farewell, my heart. Kiss the children.
Your v.B.
Gastein, August 30, '71.
Happy the man to whom God has given a virtuous wife, who writes him every day. I am delighted that you are well, and that you have come to be three, to whom I hope to add myself as fourth on the 7th or 8th. * * * You see I have enough mental leisure here to devote myself to the unaccustomed work of making plans; but all on the presupposition that the excited Gauls do not worry my little friend Thiers to death, for then I should have to stay with his Majesty and watch which way the hare runs. I do not think that likely, but with such a stupid nation as they are anything is possible. Hearty love to both fat children.
Your most faithful v.B.
FOOTNOTES:
[Footnote 2: From The Love Letters of Bismarck. Permission Harper &
Brothers, New York.]
[Footnote 3: This note has been lost.]
[Footnote 4: In subsequent letters he speaks of her "blue gray-black eyes.">[
[Footnote 5: Inspector at Schönhausen.]