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290
THE TRAGIC WEEK [chap. xvii.
All faces were more or less careworn. The
"Centrals" held themselves aloof and talked together
in low tones. The members of the French Legation,
taking part in covpore in the reception of the President,
were not among the spectators. My British colleague
had the serious and pale face that I got to know so well
during the many days of emotions shared in common
later on. He asked me what I thought of the ultimatum
and I did not hide from him that I considered the
situation extremely strained ; that was his opinion also.
1 was introduced to the new Spanish Minister, who had
arrived two days before. When I shook hands with the
amiable and sympathetic Duke of Amalfi, I had no idea
that in the near future I should daily have recourse to
his kindness and his untiring work on questions relative
to the Russians left in Germany, to our prisoners of
war, etc.
We were too absent-minded to enjoy the delightful
spectacle before our eyes : the picturesque shores of the
arm of the sea below us, the motley crowd gaily
awaiting the arrival of the French guests, the pretty
gondola which appeared at last escorted by a whole
flotilla of launches, bringing the King, the President of
the French Republic and their respective suites, while the
guns fired a salute and the bells of the ancient churches
in the old town pealed merrily.
When I returned to the Legation, and re-read and
studied the text of the Austrian ultimatum in the French
translation, my anxiety increased still more. Just as in
1912, in the cathedral of Sofia, when the standard of
Samara was brought in, a sudden and irresistible thought
flashed across my brain : " It is war ! "
At four o’clock in the afternoon, I and my foreign
colleagues presented ourselves at the Castle to greet the
President of the Republic. We were shown into one of
the drawing-rooms adjoining the rooms occupied by the
President. After a few minutes of waiting, the door
opened and M. Poincare came in, followed by M.Viviani.
He talked to all the Ministers in turn. "It is not
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