At the same time, he despatched a Prussian officer of the general staff and his private secretary, Lothar Bucher, to Spain in order that they might study the situation.

It was important that as far as possible the official representative of Prussia should have no share in the arrangement of this matter.
Prince Frederick came to Berlin, but, like his brother, he refused, unless the King gave a command.

At the end of April, the negotiations seemed again to have broken down.

Bismarck, who was in ill health, left Berlin for Varzin, where he remained for six weeks.
We are, however, not surprised, since we know that Bismarck's interest was so strongly engaged, that he was able after all to carry the matter through.

He seems to have persuaded Prince Carl Anton; he then wrote to Prim telling him not to despair; the candidature was an excellent thing which was not to be lost sight of; he must, however, negotiate not with the Prussian Government, but with the Prince himself.