The minister did not respond to the question; he began instead
to fidget in his chair.

"When I gave my word to his Highness the duke, it was without
conditions. I asked no favors; I considered it my duty. Let us
come to an understanding. Material comfort is necessary to a man
of my age. Fine phrases and a medal or two more do not count. I
am, then, to go to Servia. You were very kind to hide me in your
cabinet."

"It was to show you that I had no secrets from you," quickly.

"Let us pass on. Mollendorf is to go to Paris, where he will be
a nonentity, while in his present office he is a power in the
land-- Devil take me, but it seems to me that we are all a pack
of asses! Our gains will not be commensurate with our losses.
The navy? Well, we'll let that pass; the Colonel, I see, loves a
joke."

"You forget our patriotism for the true house."

"Why not give it its true name--self-interest?"

"Marshal, in heaven's name, what has stirred your bile?" The
minister was losing his patience, a bad thing for him to do in
the presence of the old warrior.

"It is something I've been swallowing this past year." The
Marshal tipped the ash of his cigar into the waste basket.