"You had refused that we should enter Paris; if you will agree that the German troops occupy Paris, then Belfort shall be restored to you." There could be no doubt as to the answer, and some hours later the assent of the King was given to this alteration in the conditions.

Before this the indemnity had been reduced to five thousand million francs; below that all the efforts of the French were not able to bring it.

There were many other exciting scenes during the progress of the negotiations; on one occasion Thiers threatened Bismarck with interposition of the neutral Powers; "If you speak to me of Europe, I will speak of the Emperor," was Bismarck's answer.

He threatened to open negotiations with him and to send him back to France at the head of Bazaine's army.

On another occasion--it was during the discussion of finance--another scene took place which Favre describes: "As the discussion continued, he grew animated, he interrupted Thiers at every word, accused him of wishing to spoil everything; he said that he was ill, at the end of his powers, he was incapable of going further, in a work that we were pleased to make of no use.