war with France and Austria. The continent of Europe again seemed
paralysed for a long time by internal disruption. But our triumph was
short-lived! No one had suspected that Prussia would prove so strong.
Then the first defects in our policy became apparent. After the first
German victories on the Rhine, England ought to have concluded an
alliance with France and declared war against Prussia. Great political
revolutions require considerable time, and a clever government should
always look ahead. Bismarck slowly prepared England's defeat. Thirty
years ago we had a presentiment of this; it threatened us like a
storm-cloud, but our Government had not the courage to look things in
the face and lacked the energy."

A general, who had hitherto said nothing, took up the conversation. He
belonged to the engineers, and was on his way to take over the command
of Gibraltar.

"We talk about the loss of India," said he; "but who knows whether we
have not to fear an invasion of England herself?"

"Impossible!" exclaimed all the gentlemen present; "England will never
allow her men-of-war to be driven out of the Channel."

"I hope so too, but I don't know whether you gentlemen remember how
close the danger of Napoleon landing an army on English soil once was."

"And if it had made its appearance, it would have been smashed to pieces
by British fists!" cried Mr. Kennedy.

"Perhaps. But why have we never consented to the Channel Tunnel being
made? All military authorities, especially Wolseley, are absolutely
opposed to opening a road so convenient for traffic and trade. They have
always declared that England must remain an island, only accessible
by sea. This is certainly the first and most essential condition of
England's power."

"Well, then," said Mr. Kennedy, "as England is still an island, and we
have always adhered to the principle of keeping a fleet superior to that
of the two strongest naval powers, where is the danger?"

"Danger? There is always a danger, when one has enemies," replied the
General. "I maintain that at the beginning of the nineteenth century, it
was a toss up whether Napoleon crossed or not; and I don't believe that
we should have been a match for our great opponent, if he had once got a
firm footing on our coast."

"His plan was a visionary one and therefore impracticable."

"His plan only failed because it was too complicated. If he had had
modern telegraphic communication at his disposal, this woul