How to decline a challenge to duel and yet retain one's honor unimpaired is a problem which periodically presents itself to the Prime Minister of France.
Last week, in the Chamber of Deputies itself, Raymond Poincare was holding forth from the Tribune upon the wisdom of extending a loan to Rumania, biggest of the little allies of France.
Interrupted and sneered Deputy Bergery, a onetime undersecretary to M.
Poincare, "I am most skeptical that such a loan will ever be repaid."
"So, it is M. Bergery," said the Prime Minister softly, with a slow, maddening smile, "I recognize the M. Bergery whom I knew on...
To continue reading:
or
Log-In
