Hafner examined the nobleman, with his glance accustomed to read the depths of the mind in order to divine the intentions.

He saw that Chapron's first witness was a troublesome customer, and he continued: "That done, I beg to read to you this little paper." He drew from his pocket a sheet of folded paper and placed upon the end of his nose his famous gold 'lorgnon': "It is very trifling, one of those directives, as Monsieur de Moltke says, which serve to guide operations, a plan of action which we will modify after discussion.

In short, it is a landmark that we may not launch into space." "Pardon, sir," interrupted Montfanon, whose brows contracted still more at the mention of the celebrated field-marshal, and, stopping by a gesture the reader, who, in his surprise, dropped his lorgnon upon the table on which his elbow rested.

"I regret very much," he continued, "to be obliged to tell you that Monsieur Dorsenne and I"-- here he turned to Dorsenne, who made an equivocal gesture of vexation--"can not admit the point of view in which you place yourself....

You claim that we are here to arrange a reconciliation.