quizzingly: "Island of Tobago? Island of Barataria your Lordship
must be meaning; Island of which I cannot be the Sancho Panza!"
[Ib. 31.] And Nivernois found he must not mention Tobago again.

For the rest, Friedrich made no secret of his English Treaty;
showed it with all frankness to Nivernois, in all points:
"Is there, can the most captious allege that there is, anything
against France in it. My one wish and aim, that of Peace for
myself: judge!" Nivernois stayed till March; but seems to have had,
of definite, only Tobago and good words; so that nothing farther
came of him, and there was no Renewal of Treaty then or after.
Thus, in his third month (March, 1756), practical Nivernois was
recalled, without result;--instead of whom fat Valori was sent;
privately intending "to do nothing but observe, in Berlin." From
all which, we infer that the Babiole Committee now saw land;
and that Bernis himself had decided in the affirmative: "Austria,
not Prussia; yes, Madame!" To the joy of Madame and everybody.
For, it is incredible, say all witnesses, what indignation broke
out in Paris when Friedrich made this new "defection," so they
termed it; revolt from his Liege Lord (who had been so exemplary to
him on former occasions!), and would not bite at Tobago when
offered. So that the Babiole Committee went on, henceforth, with
flowing sea; and by Mayday (1st MAY, 1756) brought out its French-
Austrian Treaty in a completed state. "To stand by one another,"
like Castor and Pollux, in a manner; "24,000, reciprocally, to be
ready on demand;" nay I think something of "subsidies" withal,--TO
Austria, of course. But the particulars are not worth giving;
the Performance, thanks to a zealous Pompadour, having quite outrun
the Stipulation, and left it practically out of sight, when the
push came. Our Constitutional Historian may shadow the rest:--