“Our generals,” he announced, “are going to leave her in such a state that she will never again cross our path.”

There was Russia, too, to consider, but her amorphous masses were slow to assemble and unwieldy to move.  The Executive Staff of Berlin had timed everything by measure for crushing France in four weeks, and would then lead its enormous forces against the Russian empire before it could begin action.

“We shall finish with the bear after killing the cock,” affirmed the professor triumphantly.

But guessing at some objection from his cousin, he hastened on—­“I know what you are going to tell me.  There remains another enemy, one that has not yet leaped into the lists but which all the Germans are waiting for.  That one inspires more hatred than all the others put together, because it is of our blood, because it is a traitor to the race. . . .  Ah, how we loathe it!”

And in the tone in which these words were uttered throbbed an expression of hatred and a thirst for vengeance which astonished both listeners.

“Even though England attack us,” continued Hartrott, “we shall conquer, notwithstanding.  This adversary is not more terrible than the others.  For the past century she has ruled the world.  Upon the fall of Napoleon she seized the continental hegemony, and will fight to keep it.  But what does her energy amount to? . . .  As our Bernhardi says, the English people are merely a nation of renters and sportsmen.  Their army is formed from the dregs of the nation.  The country lacks military spirit.  We are a people of warriors, and it will be an easy thing for us to conquer the English, debilitated by a false conception of life.”

The Doctor paused and then added:  “We are counting on the internal corruption of our enemies, on their lack of unity.  God will aid us by sowing confusion among these detested people.  In a few days you will see His hand.  Revolution is going to break out in France at the same time as war.  The people of Paris will build barricades in the streets and the scenes of the Commune will repeat themselves.  Tunis, Algiers and all their other possessions are about to rise against the metropolis.”

Argensola seized the opportunity to smile with an aggressive incredulity.

“I repeat it,” insisted Hartrott, “that this country is going to have internal revolution and colonial insurrection.  I know perfectly well what I am talking about. . . .  Russia also will break out into revolution with a red flag that will force the Czar to beg for mercy on his knees.  You have only to read in the papers of the recent strikes in Saint Petersburg, and the manifestations of the strikers with the pretext of President Poincare’s visit. . . .  England will see her appeals to her colonies completely ignored.  India is going to rise against her, and Egypt, too, will seize this opportunity for her emancipation.”