A more complete diplomatic triumph has rarely been won.

It was the reward of consistency and patience, qualities in which the Beaconsfield Cabinet was signally lacking.
[Footnote 119: _Bismarck: his Reflections and Reminiscences_, vol.ii.
p.

259 (Eng.

ed.).] We may notice one other criticism: that Russia's agreement with Austria implied the pre-existence of aggressive designs.
This is by no means conclusive.

That the Czar should have taken the precaution of coming to the arrangement of January 1877 with Austria does not prove that he was desirous of war.