The Emperor asked what had taken place at the interview with Windthorst, and stated that Ministers were not to enter on political discussions with Parliamentary leaders without his permission.

Bismarck denied that there had been any political discussion, and answered that he could not allow any supervision over the guests he chose to receive in his private house.
"Not if I order it as your sovereign ?" asked the Emperor.
"No.

The commands of my King cease in my wife's drawing-room," answered Bismarck.

The Emperor had forgotten that Bismarck was a gentleman before he was a Minister, and that a Prussian nobleman could not be treated like a Russian _boyar_.[14] No reconciliation or accommodation was now possible.

The Emperor did all he could to make it appear that the resignation was voluntary and friendly.