And it seems certain that he has been given credit for knowing much of which he must have been ignorant to an extent hardly credible, even now, in face of subsequent events.
The Comtesse de Chantonnay was still tossing her head, at intervals, at the recollection of the Vicomtesse de Rathe's indigestion.

This was only typical of the feelings that divided every camp in France at this time--at any time, indeed, since the days of Charlemagne--for the French must always quarrel among themselves until they are actually on the brink of national catastrophe.

And even when they are fallen into that pit they will quarrel at the bottom, and bespatter each other with the mud that is there.
"Are we all here ?" asked Albert de Chantonnay, standing in an effective attitude at the end of the table, with his hand on the back of his chair.

He counted the number of his fellow-conspirators, and then sat down, drawing forward a candelabra.
"You have been summoned in haste," he said, "by the request of the Marquis de Gemosac to listen to the perusal of a letter of importance.
It may be of the utmost importance--to us--to France--to all the world." He drew the letter from his pocket and opened it amid a breathless silence.

His listeners noted the care with which he attended to gesture and demeanour, and accounted it to him for righteousness; for they were French.