A campaign would be a triumph for French arms, of course; but such triumphs, however certain, are never won without loss. For France as a people there must needs be profit and fame; but for individuals - well, even in a succession Of victories some French blood must be shed, some French corpses must lie scattered on distant battle-fields - there must be cypress as well as laurel.

Yet the idea of impending war was not un pleasant. It electrified the intellectual atmosphere, set the hearts of men and women throbbing with new hopes, new fears. To elderly people it seemed only the other day that the army was coming home in triumph after the Italian War, and France was crowning the liberators Of a sister land; but to the young people that Italian campaign seemed to have happened a long while ago. It was time that France should arise in her might and strike a great blow.