One main point stood out: Germany's declaration of war on Russia. Like a shot France was dragged in, automatically. A well-laid scheme on the part of the Wilhelmstrasse. The odious article from the Cologne Gazette which was reproduced everywhere had been a final eye-opener.
One amusing detail: Hervé asking to be allowed to go! Another rather shocked me: Telegrams from various places on "the Enthusiasm in the Provinces...." I had just come from the provinces!
I had finished reading. It was evident that my neighbour was dying to talk. Feeling charitably disposed I gave him an opening. In five minutes I had learnt all there was to know about his antecedents, his family, and his profession. He had passed his legal examinations, taking the degree of licentiate, and was the son of a lawyer. He was coming back from Autun, the home of his maternal grandfather. What times we were living through, sir! The day before when the official telegram had arrived, ah, what enthusiasm there had been; I ought to have seen the factory hands rushing out shouting: "To the front!"
"You saw them then?"
"Oh no, I didn't!"
He had read this description in the Mémorial d'Autun.
He asked me childish questions about our chances, and the schemes at headquarters.
I sententiously put forward the idea of an offensive in Alsace. He jumped at it.
"To take the offensive. Yes, yes. That was the only thing to be done."