Eulenberg, as was the custom, challenged Holstein to a duel with guns. Seconds were chosen, but Holstein backed down and made a partial public apology. Eulenberg wrote in his diary, "I cannot say I consider Holstein's attacks to be really disposed of. He will revenge himself . . .

Shortly after, a series of curious articles began to appear in Maximilian Harden's obscure newspaper, DIE ZUKUNFT (The Future). In cryptic language, at first avoiding names, he described breathless scenes of intrigue in which " The Charmer," "Heart of My Heart," "Kissable," and friends cunningly manipulated "The Darling." The paper elsewhere identified" The Darling" as the Emperor and "The Charmer" as Eulenberg. It was some time before these articles came to Eulenberg's attention, and since press attacks were not rare, he at first ignored them.

Harden grew bolder:

"Phili would have lifted his visionary eye bemusedly to heaven if an envoy had been suggested without his advice being sought. His hand could be discerned everywhere. Whoever wanted anything turned to Phili, Reconciled the Kaiser with Count Henckel, on whose house the ban had long been laid, and who now became Prince Donnersmarck. He discussed affairs with his bosom friend, Waldersee. And inherited a million from the Vienna Rothschild. Then his star seemed to wane. His dearest Bulow sat firmly in his place in the sun, Became Count, Bulow did, then Chancellor, Prince and incidentally heir to millions . . . Yet the romantic came back from the Vienna exile, was once more invited by the Emperor, taken to the North Cape, visited. Phili takes care of his friends. One, Moltke, is chief of the General Staff, another, even closer, is commandant of Berlin. Tschirsky has the foreign office. There are hopes for a soft berth somewhere for Herr von Barnbuler. All nice fellows. Musical. Poetical. Spiritualistic. Ethical. Read Nietzsche. Address each other by first names. Touchingly poetical in their epistles to each other. Lean to Christian Science. But nebulous as regards marriage. Their affinities for each other might be a private matter if they did not form that intimate Round Table of the Kaiser From visible or invisible places spin threads which choke the breath of the German Empire . . . I therefore do now denounce Philip Friedrich Karl Alexander Botho Prince zu Eulenberg and Hertefeld as the man who, with tireless energy, has whispered and yet whispers into the ear of Wilhelm II that he was destined to rule alone, as endowed with special grace, and in the light and succor of the heavens above . . ."

For months the attacks continued with scant notice. Harden elaborated his description of this tight circle of men who met weekly at Liebenberg and made all important decisions of state. He said these very poetic men shunned women, that their affinities were of concern to pathologists dealing with abnormal behavior, that their morality threatened the Empire. He hinted at elaborate orgies and seductions.

Then General HulsenHaseler (later famed for his authentic" dying swan' dance) brought the papers to the Crown Prince (like every Hohenzollern Prince in history, a stiff young man, sharply jealous of his sire) who told the world his innocent-minded father couldn't conceivably have known what sort of men his friends were. The Kaiser, he said haughtily, wouldn't know the meaning of Harden's nasty terms. (This was the Crown Prince's last public statement for a decade.) The Kaiser was furious. Was it possible that such scurrilous publications were permitted? Such outrageous nonsense, he said, should be stopped (and forgotten) by clapping Harden in prison. But under pressure from the Crown Prince, the Army, and Bulow, the Kaiser demanded that Eulenberg and Moltke clear their names or leave the country.

General Count Hohenau, Major Count zu Lynar and Moltke resigned. Moltke sued for libel. The opening of the case was described at the start

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