disgust: "Frenchmen. Really, I mean to say, Stevens. Frenchmen."

 

"Yes, sir."

 

"And to think we have to be seen by the world to be arm in arm with them. One

wishes for a good bath at the mere reminder."

 

"Yes, sir."

 

"Last time I was in Berlin, Stevens, Baron Overath, old friend of my father,

came up and said: 'Why do you do this to us? Don't you see we can't go on like

this?' I was jolly well tempted to tell him it's those wretched Frenchmen. It's

not the English way of carrying on, I wanted to say. But I suppose one can't do

things like that. Mustn't speak ill of our dear allies."

 

But the very fact that the French were the most intransigent as regards

releasing Germany from the cruelties of the Versailles treaty made all the more

imperative the need to bring to the gathering at Darlington Hall at least one

French gentleman with unambiguous influence over his country's foreign policy.

Indeed, I heard several times his lordship express the view that without the

participation of such a personage, any discussion on the topic of Germany would

be little more than an indulgence. He and Sir David accordingly set upon this

final crucial lap of their preparations and to witness the unswerving

determination with which they persevered in the face of repeated frustrations

was a humbling experience; countless letters and telegrams were dispatched and