Antonia Pruet’s “La Prince de Bismarck”

Madame Jesse, the owner of the hotel occupied by Bismarck, returned to Versailles on Sunday, March 5. She was welcomed home by Bismarck himself. As though proud of the state in which she left the house which had sheltered him, he conducted Madame Jesse through the rooms of the ground and first floors. They were all so dirty that it was found necessary afterward to scrape the floors, yet Bismarck bragged to Mme. Jesse of the care that had been taken. “You see, Madame, what pains I have taken to have your hotel respected. I have even respected your guinea-hens. They annoyed me not a little, I can tell you. at least have liked to eat their eggs, and they wouldn’t oblige me with an egg, even. Well, in spite of this they are there; come and see them.”

So saying, he calls the gardner’s wife, and gives orders for the immediate exhibition of the guinea-hens.

“But you ate them eight days ago.” expostulates the gardener’s wife.