Chapter 4

           

           Thefloodofnationsbeginstosubsideintoitsnormalchannels.Thewavesofthegreatmovementabate,andonthecalmsurfaceeddiesareformedinwhichfloatthediplomatists,whoimaginethattheyhavecausedthefloodstoabate.

           Butthesmoothseaagainsuddenlybecomesdisturbed.Thediplomatiststhinkthattheirdisagreementsarethecauseofthisfreshpressureofnaturalforces;theyanticipatewarbetweentheirsovereigns;thepositionseemstotheminsoluble.Butthewavetheyfeeltoberisingdoesnotcomefromthequartertheyexpect.Itrisesagainfromthesamepointasbefore—Paris.Thelastbackwashofthemovementfromthewestoccurs:abackwashwhichservestosolvetheapparentlyinsuperablediplomaticdifficultiesandendsthemilitarymovementofthatperiodofhistory.

           ThemanwhohaddevastatedFrancereturnstoFrancealone,withoutanyconspiracyandwithoutsoldiers.Anyguardmightarresthim,butbystrangechancenoonedoessoandallrapturouslygreetthemantheycursedthedaybeforeandwillcurseagainamonthlater.

           Thismanisstillneededtojustifythefinalcollectiveact.

           Thatactisperformed.

           Thelastrôleisplayed.Theactorisbiddentodisrobeandwashoffhispowderandpaint:hewillnotbewantedanymore.

           Andsomeyearspassduringwhichheplaysapitifulcomedytohimselfinsolitudeonhisisland,justifyinghisactionsbyintriguesandlieswhenthejustificationisnolongerneeded,anddisplayingtothewholeworldwhatitwasthatpeoplehadmistakenforstrengthaslongasanunseenhanddirectedhisactions.

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