Page:The invasion of the Crimea Vol. 8.djvu/379

 COURSE TAKEN BY LOUIS NAPOLEON. 347 opinion, as the one entertained by his Govern- chap. ment, Lord Cowley answered : ' Well, it does not 1_ ' appear to me that the Russian preponderance in ' the Black Sea will be materially affected.' ' Not/ replied the Emperor, ' by our having now ' a right to keep an equal force there ? ' Lord Cowley briefly and ably adduced for his answer some arguments like those we heard used at Vienna against the ' counterpoise ' plan. The Emperor replied : ' I will talk the matter ' over again with Drouyn de Lhuys.' Speaking then from a sudden impulse, Lord Cowley made what was certainly a very abnor- mal suggestion, saying, ' Would there be any ob- ' jection to my being present ? ' ' The Emperor looked a little surprised, and ' then said, " Certainly not ; " and he appointed ' an hour for the next day.' A soldier of other days, a survivor of the Mos- Marshal J VaiUant: cow campaign, now a Mmister wielding the re- gathered power of France in another war against Eussia, Marshal Vaillant was destined to utter the few magic words which would shape the then course of her history, overrule a new 'Emperor ' Napoleon,' and govern the march of events. ' When I arrived,' says Lord Cowley, ' Vaillant ' was in the antechamber, and Drouyn de Lhuys
 * with the Emperor.' *

The Marshal and Lord Cowley were soon intro-
 * Senior's Conversations, vol. i.