"Not to-day--I am in some hurry." Here Victor lifted his hat in parting salutation, and as he walked away cast at Graham another glance keen and scrutinising. "I have seen that man before," he muttered, "where?-- when?--can it be only a family likeness to the father? No, the features are different; the profile is--ha!--Mr. Lamb, Mr. Lamb--but why call himself by that name?--why disguised?--what can he have to do with poor Louise? Bah--these are not questions I can think of now. This war--this war--can it yet be prevented? How it will prostrate all the plans my ambition so carefully schemed! Oh!--at least if I were but in the Chamber. Perhaps I yet may be before the war is ended--the Clavignys have great interest in their department." CHAPTER V. Graham had left a note with Rochebriant's concierge requesting an interview on the Marquis's return to Paris, and on the evening after the day just commemorated he received a line, saying that Alain had come back, and would be at home at nine o'clock. Graham found himself in the Breton's apartment punctually at the hour indicated. Alain was in high spirits: he burst at once into enthusiastic exclamations on the virtual announcement of war. "Congratulate me, mon cher!" he cried--"the news was a joyous surprise to me. Only so recently as yesterday morning I was under the gloomy apprehension that the Imperial Cabinet would continue to back Ollivier's craven declaration 'that France had not been affronted!' The Duchesse de Tarascon, at whose campagne I was a guest, is (as you doubtless know) very much in the confidence of the Tuileries. On the first signs of war, I wrote to her, saying that whatever the objections of my pride to enter the army as a private in time of peace, such objections ceased on the moment when all distinctions of France must vanish in the eyes of sons eager to defend her banners. The Duchesse in reply begged me to come to her _campagne_ and talk over the matter. I went; she then said that if war should break out it was the intention to organise the _Mobiles_ and officer them with men of birth and education, irrespective of previous military service, and in that case I might count on my epaulets. But only two nights ago she received a letter--I know not of course from whom--evidently from some high authority--that induced her to think the moderation of the Council would avert the war, and leave the swords of the Mobiles in their sheaths. I suspect the decision of yesterday must have been a very sudden one. _Ce cher Gramont_! See what it is to have a well-born man in a sovereign's councils." "If war must come, I at least wish all renown to yourself. But--" "Oh! spare me your 'buts'; the English are always too full of them where her own interests do not appeal to her. She had no 'buts' for war in India or a march into Abyssinia."