Evening star., 1898-08-06
CHAPTER HI.
A Council of war

What shall tell the people. sir?" said
| the representative of the Figaro when he
| net Nansittart on board the Seafarer as
| at Havre.
| Tell them" said Jerome. THAT France
| and conquered the Sahara-surely then
| We are equal to the lesser tack set US by
| Germany
May 1 be informed as to your personal
| intentions?''
Only this, that I go direct to Paris to
| consult with the king. But. monsieur a
| word in your ear Make much of the help
gwen me by the British warship. Quote it
as an earnest of English good will to
| France. This war will not be an affair of
| moments, and when the stress comes ii will
/ pe well to have England at our back Do
you Understand"
Fully. monsieur. Your wishes are law
| 10 every patriotic Frenchman"
| And now" said Vansittart .get us
| change roles. What news have youq''
| me journalist glanced around neryousIy
,, 70 make sure he was not overheard "IIi
| monsieur! France is unprenared The
newspapers claim victories won for nl,r
arms, but each such victory heralds Ger
nan nan advance. 1 fear the worst and have
go me nope Who can extricate us
| from this miserable postion?"
| me millionaire had long ago measured
.he ffehch character, and knew how to
| Hold II to his will. II have come from
| Sai SlileIIca 10 make strong effort, monsieur
be confident ~
The Figaro used the phrase as a baadlf,o
next day. T -
| NO no lntelligence, not even the unexpected
decIaration of war, had created such a
tnfil or excitement throughout the coun-
Try as the announcement of Jerone's land
ing. ana when the laboring wires bore to
every center OF population the full details
OF MS sensational escape in mid A tlantio
coupled with his first cheerful words of en-
GCura cement. excitement passed from fever
neat to delrium N
The magnetism, Of
the army. Next day the northern German
tciuiLh sustained severe check in the
vicinity of Nerdun. When an annarertIz,
hn,Lli htinLrest'abie Hank was turned by French
piiE .Aue' each member of which fought with
Vlsor and determination that unset tbe
sc!entlhc calculations of their OPPONENTS
me !!1s, raIlying. cry of the fighting line was
we are sent by the emperorv'
Paris weDt with joy.
Mhen Nansittart reached the Care St
Ldzare he found soldiers and pepuIace in
iniIhIhent danger of conflict. The authori-
ties had detailed thousands of mon to li,7a
the street ard three regiments of ,aJ,ai-Y.
TO assist the infantry
but me People would not be repressed.
ahey wanted to see, TO cheer. to touch
tfeir Idol, and for a little while their frar.,
threatere ed to end in bloodshed.
Everybody saw him, everybody cheered
nm and all were supremely delighted.
tfis was one side of the question, the
otfer prese nted itself when an hour after
ne reached the Tuileries, he Joined tbe
KING and his principal officers of state in
the council chamber.
Here gloom took the place of iubiIation.
with downcast and saddened faces tho
chief men in France made him coenizont
of the bitter truth
They seemed to invite reproach bv their
words A neglected army, a depleted navy.
deficiency in guns and stores skeIefon a.
visions and inferior cornrnissa rial f-these
were the rusted weapons they opposed to
the FURNISHED panoply of Germany
a.; "A plethoric treasury was their worst in
dictment. Money was being lavished now
but was it not too late?
only once did Nansittart betray resent
ment. When he heard of the meagerness
IN IN munitions and supplies he said, doubt
irsiy and surprised:
Can this be possible with Pompier at
the head of the Department."
Silence followed his question. The MEM
bers OF the council looked at each other,
until the king passionately explained:
4 protested against it, Vansittart hut
court influences We're too strong for me-
Adnnral Pompier was placed on the re-
tifed list, the department was split up into
naval and military branches and they are
controlled by the Comte de la Ferav-Mitier
and Baron de Champmai respectively
are these gentlemen at present discharg-
ing the same responsible duties?' said
Nansittart, with asperity in his tone
Yes
ut is not their fault probably. Liam
cocrt, will you to it that Pompier is
recalled by telegram, and given complete
control. If he thinks these titled moments
ties can help him. let them be retained
Ii not, they can be provided for elsewhere"
Liancourt smiled. This man, inscrutable
TO others, was an open book to Vansittart
1t was easy to see that he reioiced AT tbe
end of palace intrigues.
one member of the council was not
pleased at this first indication of the mil
lionaire'S methods
The fat, pompous, fussy Due de Tangier
VINO became secretary of the M
he owned a successful yacht, rose and pro-
tested angrily
Your majesty. it is a matter of prece-
dent that in such a serious matter as that
involved in the proposed change the opin-
ion of the responsible authorities should
be sought. l, as head of the naval service
protest against Mr.. Vansittart's method Of
dealing with this council headed as II is
by your majesty in person."
who are your" said Jerome coolly He
felt assured that he must speedily assert
himself else he would be thwarted con-
stantly by every jack-in-ofice who had
sprung into existence beneath this mush-
room monarchy.
''rhe Due de Tangier, sir"
Was 1t upon your recommendation that
Admiral Pompier was removed from the
office to which 1 appointed him?'
Yes. it was. Let me add, sir, that your
words-'
Are generally obeyed. Monsieur lie Due,
l give you the alternative of sitting down
with a closed mouth or being dismissed
from your post"
The due sat down.
Vansittart continued: Lest there be any
doubt concerning my attitude, 1 now tell
you plainly that in the present desperate
state of France there must be one COM
mander-in-chief. If l am to fill that i'm
portant place, L will listen to your coun-
sci, but my orders cannot be questioned
INSTRUMENTATION here means dismissal in
the field death. Are these your terms, or
do / return to the United States?"
The king, who had cultivated some de-
gree of tact since he ascended the throne,
cried:
"If you leave US, Vansttart, you must |
take the queen and me with you. We shall |
not be wanted in France Come, Tangier, |
cry 'Peccavi.' If / am king do not forget |
that Mr.. Vansittart is the emperor"
The crestfallen due apologized, hand |
somely enough. Thenceforward he was the |
millionaires keenest supporter.
"And now, Liancourt," said Jerome |
what is the position?'
Liancourt unfolded a map. Ten days |
ago." he said, 1.-THE German emperor sim /
ultaneously threw three army corps across |
the frontier. Three severe battles have |
been fought, besides several minor engage |
ments. Although not routed the French /