and has been told so many times by so many different people that I will not go into details except to say that the French protectorate of Tunis (now one of our most flourishing colonies) was entirely arranged by W. in a long confidential conversation with Lord Salisbury.  The cession of the Island of Cyprus by Turkey to the English was a most unexpected and disagreeable surprise to W. However, he went instantly to Lord Salisbury, who was a little embarrassed, as that negotiation had been kept secret, which didn’t seem quite fair—­everything else having been openly discussed around the council table.  He quite understood W.’s feelings in the matter, and was perfectly willing to make an arrangement about Tunis.  The thing was neither understood nor approved at first by the French Government.  W. returned to Paris, “les mains vides; seulement a chercher dans sa poche on y eut trouve les cles de la Tunisie”—­as one of his friends defined the situation some years ago.  He was almost disavowed by his Government.  The ministers were timid and unwilling that France should take any initiative—­even his friend, Leon Say, then Minister of Finances, a very clever man and brilliant politician, said:  “Notre collegue Waddington, contre son habitude, s’est emballe cette fois pour la question de la Tunisie.” (Our colleague Waddington, contrary to his nature, has quite lost his head this time over the Tunis question.) I think the course of events has fully justified his action, and now that it has proved such a success, every one claims to have taken the initiative of the French protectorate of Tunis.  All honours have been paid to those who carried out the project, and very little is said of the man who originated the scheme in spite of great difficulties at home and abroad.  Some of W.’s friends know the truth.

[Illustration:  The Berlin Congress.  From a painting by Anton von Werner, 1881.]

There was a great exchange of visits, photographs, and autographs the last days of the Congress.  Among other things which W. brought back from Berlin, and which will be treasured by his grandsons as a historical souvenir, was a fan, quite a plain wooden fan, with the signatures of all the plenipotentiaries—­some of them very characteristic.  The French signatures are curiously small and distinct, a contrast to Bismarck’s smudge.  W. was quite sorry to say good-bye to some of his colleagues.  Andrassy, with his quick sympathies and instant comprehension of all sides of a question, attracted him very much.  He was a striking personality, quite the Slav type.  W. had little private intercourse with Prince Gortschakoff—­who was already an old man and the type of the old-fashioned diplomatist—­making very long and well-turned phrases which made people rather impatient.  On the whole W. was satisfied.  He writes two or three days before the signing of the treaty:  “As far as I can see at present, no one will be satisfied with the result of the Congress; it is perhaps the