What can the world expect of such people!" Desnoyers here intervened in order to brighten this gloomy monologue with a little optimism.

War had not yet been positively declared.

The diplomats were still trying to arrange matters.

Perhaps it might all turn out peaceably at the last minute, as had so often happened before.
His cousin was seeing things entirely distorted by an aggressive enthusiasm.
Oh, the ironical, ferocious and cutting smile of the Doctor! Argensola had never known old Madariaga, but it, nevertheless, occurred to him that in this fashion sharks must smile, although he, too, had never seen a shark.
"It is war," boomed Hartrott.

"When I left Germany, fifteen days ago, I knew that war was inevitable." The certainty with which he said this dissipated all Julio's hope.
Moreover, this man's trip, on the pretext of seeing his mother, disquieted him.