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292
THE TRAGIC WEEK [chap. xvii.
cordial toasts, followed by the " Marseillaise," and the
Swedish National Anthem. In short the setting of the
banquet bore a normal aspect. But no one paid any
attention to what was going on around. All thoughts
were centred on the dreaded events, relentless and
terrible, which were to be foreseen extending their fatal
embrace even to this picturesque towrn flooded with the
soft light of the sunset; even to this old and gorgeous
palace which had witnessed so many tragic events
within its walls ; even to the very people taking part in
the banquet and who were talking amongst themselves.
In Paris, in October, 1908, I was present at a party
given in M. Izvolsky’s honour at the Russian Embassy;
it was the day after the annexation of Bosnia, and the
proclamation of Bulgarian independence and sovereignty.
Then also the atmosphere was stormy; many foreign
representatives accosted one another without exactly
knowing whether they had to do with a friend or a future
foe; at the end of the great saloon M. Izvolsky, the
centre of attraction for all, was good-naturedly
explaining his diplomacy and the situation to the prettiest
and most charming political women of the Paris of that
day: Countess Jean de Castellane, Countess Jean de
Montebello, Countess de Greffulhe; while on the other
side the good-looking and elegant Austrian Ambassador,
Count Koewenhuller, who had just been made a Knight
of the Golden Fleece, holding a little court of young and
beautiful women, cast sarcastic glances at the Russian
Minister, as much as to say: "And you, my frend, you
will get nothing but worries out of this!"
In 1912 I was present at a party given by M. Sazonoff
which I described above, and where general depression
weighed on the invited guests. But nothing was to be
compared to the tragic banquet of the 25th July, 1914, in
Stockholm. It was fate hovering over the brilliant
assembly; and every one could hear the flutter of its
wings.
Voluminous telegrams were being continually
brought to the King, who passed them on to M. Poincare.
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