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matter of conversation even between members of the corps diplomatique；
two guests； distinguished by no uniform； no decoration；
at this reception in the New Palace； discussed in a low voice；
and with apparently very correct information。
By what means； by the exercise of what acuteness had these two ordinary
mortals ascertained that which so many persons of the highest rank
and importance scarcely even suspected？ It is impossible to say。
Had they the gifts of foreknowledge and foresight？ Did they
possess a supplementary sense； which enabled them to see beyond
that limited horizon which bounds all human gaze？ Had they obtained
a peculiar power of divining the most secret events？ Was it owing
to the habit； now become a second nature； of living on information；
that their mental constitution had thus become really transformed？
It was difficult to escape from this conclusion。
Of these two men； the one was English； the other French； both were tall
and thin； but the latter was sallow as are the southern Provencals；
while the former was ruddy like a Lancashire gentleman。
The Anglo…Norman； formal； cold； grave； parsimonious of gestures
and words； appeared only to speak or gesticulate under
the influence of a spring operating at regular intervals。
The Gaul； on the contrary； lively and petulant； expressed himself
with lips； eyes； hands； all at once； having twenty different
ways of explaining his thoughts； whereas his interlocutor seemed
to have only one； immutably stereotyped on his brain。
The strong contrast they presented would at once have struck the most
superficial observer； but a physiognomist； regarding them closely；
would have defined their particular characteristics by saying；
that if the Frenchman was 〃all eyes；〃 the Englishman was 〃all ears。〃
In fact； the visual apparatus of the one had been singularly
perfected by practice。 The sensibility of its retina must
have been as instantaneous as that of those conjurors who
recognize a card merely by a rapid movement in cutting the pack
or by the arrangement only of marks invisible to others。
The Frenchman indeed possessed in the highest degree what may
be called 〃the memory of the eye。〃
The Englishman； on the contrary； appeared especially organized
to listen and to hear。 When his aural apparatus had been once
struck by the sound of a voice he could not forget it； and after ten
or even twenty years he would have recognized it among a thousand。
His ears； to be sure； had not the power of moving as freely
as those of animals who are provided with large auditory flaps；
but； since scientific men know that human ears possess； in fact；
a very limited power of movement； we should not be far wrong
in affirming that those of the said Englishman became erect；
and turned in all directions while endeavoring to gather
in the sounds； in a manner apparent only to the naturalist。
It must be observed that this perfection of sight and hearing
was of wonderful assistance to these two men in their vocation；
for the Englishman acted as correspondent of the Daily Telegraph；
and the Frenchman； as correspondent of what newspaper；
or of what newspapers； he did not say； and when asked；
he replied in a jocular manner that he corresponded with 〃his
cousin Madeleine。〃 This Frenchman； however； neath his
careless surface； was wonderfully shrewd and sagacious。
Even while speaking at random； perhaps the better to hide his desire
to learn； he never forgot himself。 His loquacity even helped him
to conceal his thoughts； and he was perhaps even more discreet
than his confrere of the Daily Telegraph。 Both were present
at this fete given at the New Palace on the night of the 15th
of July in their character of reporters。
It is needless to say that these two men were devoted to their mission
in the worldthat they delighted to throw themselves in the track
of the most unexpected intelligencethat nothing terrified or
discouraged them from succeedingthat they possessed the imperturbable
sang froid and the genuine intrepidity of men of their calling。
Enthusiastic jockeys in this steeplechase； this hunt after information；
they leaped hedges； crossed rivers； sprang over fences； with the ardor
of pure…blooded racers； who will run 〃a good first〃 or die！
Their journals did not restrict them with regard to money
the surest； the most rapid； the most perfect element of information
known to this day。 It must also be added； to their honor；
that neither the one nor the other ever looked over or listened
at the walls of private life； and that they only exercised
their vocation when political or social interests were at stake。
In a word； they made what has been for some years called 〃the
great political and military reports。〃
It will be seen； in following them； that they had generally an
independent mode of viewing events； and； above all； their consequences；
each having his own way of observing and appreciating。
The French correspondent was named Alcide Jolivet。 Harry Blount
was the name of the Englishman。 They had just met for the first time
at this fete in the New Palace； of which they had been ordered to give
an account in their papers。 The dissimilarity of their characters；
added to a certain amount of jealousy； which generally exists
between rivals in the same calling； might have rendered them
but little sympathetic。 However； they did not avoid each other；
but endeavored rather to exchange with each other the chat of the day。
They were sportsmen； after all； hunting on the same ground。
That which one missed might be advantageously secured by the other；
and it was to their interest to meet and converse。
This evening they were both on the look out； they felt； in fact；
that there was something in the air。
〃Even should it be only a wildgoose chase；〃 said Alcide Jolivet
to himself； 〃it may be worth powder and shot。〃
The two correspondents therefore began by cautiously sounding each other。
〃Really； my dear sir； this little fete is charming！〃
said Alcide Jolivet pleasantly； thinking himself obliged to begin
the conversation with this eminently French phrase。
〃I have telegraphed already； 'splendid！'〃 replied Harry Blount calmly；
employing the word specially devoted to expressing admiration by all
subjects of the United Kingdom。
〃Nevertheless；〃 added Alcide Jolivet； 〃I felt compelled to remark
to my cousin〃
〃Your cousin？〃 repeated Harry Blount in a tone of surprise；
interrupting his brother of the pen。
〃Yes；〃 returned Alcide Jolivet； 〃my cousin Madeleine。 It is with her
that I correspond； and she likes to be quickly and well informed；
does my cousin。 I therefore remarked to her that； during this fete；
a sort of cloud had appeared to overshadow the sovereign's brow。〃
〃To me； it seemed radiant；〃 replied Harry Blount； who perhaps；
wished to conceal his real opinion on this topic。
〃And； naturally； you made it 'radiant；' in the columns of
the Daily Telegraph。〃
〃Exactly。〃
〃Do you remember； Mr。 Blount； what occurred at Zakret in 1812？〃
〃I remember it as well as if I had been there； sir；〃
replied the English correspondent。
〃Then；〃 continued Alcide Jolivet； 〃you know that； in the middle of a
fete given in his honor； it was announced to the Emperor Alexander
that Napoleon had just crossed the Niemen with the vanguard of
the French army。 Nevertheless the Emperor did not leave the fete；
and notwithstanding the extreme gravity of intelligence which might cost
him his empire； he did not allow himself to show more uneasiness。〃
〃Than our host exhibited when General Kissoff informed him
that the telegraphic wires had just been cut between the frontier
and the government of Irkutsk。〃
〃Ah！ you are aware of that？〃
〃I am！〃
〃As regards myself； it would be difficult to avoid knowing it；
since my last telegram reached Udinsk；〃 observed Alcide Jolivet；
with some satisfaction。
〃And mine only as far as Krasnoiarsk；〃 answered Harry Blount；
in a no less satisfied tone。
〃Then you know also that orders have been sent to the
troops of Nikolaevsk？〃
〃I do； sir； and at the same time a telegram was sent to the Cossacks
of the government of Tobolsk to concentrate their forces。〃
〃Not