THE ROYAL ADVENTURE There are halting-places in the lives of most men when for a period the individual desire must give place to some great national need.

We each live our little story through, but at times we find ourselves dragged from the narrow way into the great high road, where the history of the world blunders to an end which cannot even yet be dimly discerned.
When Marcos rode into Saragossa after nightfall he found the streets filled by groups of anxious men.

The nerves of civilisation were at a great tension at this time.

Sedan was past.

Paris was already besieged.
All the French-speaking people thought that the end of the world must needs be at hand.