now
what it means for France, Lepine? It means destruction. Oh, I have spent
sleepless nights, I have racked my brain! Germany's attitude is that of
a nation which desires war and which is ready to provoke it. You know,
of course, how strained the situation is?"

"About Morocco?"

"Yes. It has come to this: France and Germany are like two duellists,
face to face, sword in hand. Either they must fight, or one must
retreat--and with dishonour!"

"France cannot retreat," murmured Lepine.

"I have said the same thing a hundred times; and yet, at the bottom of
my heart, I know we cannot fight--not while this cloud of uncertainty
hangs over us. To fight, with this power in the hands of Germany, would
mean more than defeat--it would mean annihilation. There would be other
statues to be draped with black!"

Delcasse's face was livid; he removed his glasses and polished them with
a shaking hand, and, for the first time, Lepine saw his bloodshot eyes.
Delcasse noticed his glance, and laughed grimly.

"Only to you, Lepine, do I dare to show them," he said. "Before others,
I must crush this fear in my heart, bite it back from my lips; I must
appear unconcerned, confident of the issue. Only to you may I speak
freely. That is one reason I called you here. I felt that I _must_ speak
with some one. Lepine, I foresee for France a great humiliation."

Lepine looked at his companion with real concern.

"You exaggerate," he said. "You have been brooding over it too long."

Delcasse shook his head.

"I do not exaggerate. This thing is so terrible that it cannot be
exaggerated. Even at this moment, Germany is preparing the blow. For the
past week, she has been extraordinarily active. Her fleets have coaled
hurriedly and put out to sea--for manoeuvres, it is said; but this is
not the season for manoeuvres. Her shipyards have been cleared of all
civilians, and a cordon of troops posted about each one. The garrison of
every fortress along the frontier has been at least doubled, and the
most rigid patrol established. The police regulations are being enforced
with the greatest severity. Every city of the frontier swarms with
spies; even here in Paris we are not safe from them--my desk was rifled
two nights ago. I live in dread that any day, any hour, may bring the
news of some fresh disaster!"

"And do our men learn nothing?"

"Nothing! Nothing! All they can tell me is that something is preparing,
some blow, some surprise. Whatever