I greeted them on the platform, and after a few words Merey went into the train with me to tell me what had happened during the past few days.

On the whole, Merey takes a not unfavourable view of the situation, and believes that, unless something unforeseen crops up, we should succeed within a reasonable time in arranging matters satisfactorily.
"At six o'clock I went to pay my visit to General Hoffmann; he gave me some interesting details as to the mentality of the Russian delegates, and the nature of the armistice he had so fortunately concluded.

I had the impression that the General combined expert knowledge and energy with a good deal of calm and ability, but also not a little Prussian brutality, whereby he had succeeded in persuading the Russians, despite opposition at first, to agree to very favourable terms of truce.

A little later, as arranged, Prince Leopold of Bavaria came in, and I had some talk with him on matters of no importance.
"We then went to dinner, all together, including the whole staff of nearly 100 persons.

The dinner presented one of the most remarkable pictures ever seen.