The conversation about the war soon, however, became general.

"This is our situation," said, as he dealt a hand, a knowing old man of the world, a sort of French James Clay: "generally if one has no trumps in one's hand, one has at least some good court cards in the other suits; we've got neither trumps nor court cards." "Et le General Trochu ?" some one suggested.

"My opinion of General Trochu," said a General, who was sitting reading a newspaper, "is that he is a man of theory, but unpractical.

I know him well; he has utterly failed to organise the forces which he has under his command." The general opinion about Trochu seemed to be that he is a kind of M'Clellan.

"Will the Garde Nationale fight ?" some one asked.