And thereupon, like a man of a past age whom the present times distracted, he started on what had been his favourite subject of complaint ever since he had been retired from the service.
"Here's an idea for an article if you want one," he said to Massot.
"Although France may have a million soldiers she hasn't got an army.

I'll give you some notes of mine, and you will be able to tell people the truth." Warfare, he continued, ought to be purely and simply a caste occupation, with commanders designated by divine right, leading mercenaries or volunteers into action.

By democratising warfare people had simply killed it; a circumstance which he deeply regretted, like a born soldier who regarded fighting as the only really noble occupation that life offered.
For, as soon as it became every man's duty to fight, none was willing to do so; and thus compulsory military service--what was called "the nation in arms"-- would, at a more or less distant date, certainly bring about the end of warfare.

If France had not engaged in a European war since 1870 this was precisely due to the fact that everybody in France was ready to fight.

But rulers hesitated to throw a whole nation against another nation, for the loss both in life and treasure would be tremendous.