down to a manifestation of the
incipient madness which is affecting a number of men....

But two hours afterwards a letter came from the French volunteer. It
merely said that he was in Jung Lu's camp, having an excellent time.
Very late in the evening he came back himself. In spite of the
foolhardiness of the whole thing his news was the most valuable we had
received.

It shows us plainly that not only has something happened elsewhere,
but that the Boxer plan is miscarrying in Peking itself.

The young Frenchman had been really well treated, fed with Chinese
cakes and fruit, and given excellent tea to drink. Then he had been
led direct to Jung Lu's headquarters, and closely questioned by the
generalissimo himself as to our condition, our provisions, and the
number of men we had lost. He had replied, he said, that we were
having a charming time, and that we only needed some ice and some
fruit to make us perfectly happy, even in the great summer heat.
Thereupon Jung Lu had filled his pockets with peaches and ordered his
servants to tie up watermelons in a piece of cloth for him to carry
back. Jung Lu finally bade him good-bye, with the significant words
that his own personal troops on whom he could rely would attempt to
protect the Legations, but added that it was very difficult to do so
as everyone was fearful for their own heads, and dare not show too
much concern for the foreigner. This makes it absolutely plain that
this extraordinary armistice is the result of a whole series of events
which we cannot even imagine. It is like that curious affair of the
Board of Truce, but much more definite. It means ... what the devil
does it mean? After S----'s mysterious disappearance, when he was only
a day's march from Peking--month ago--it is useless to attempt any
speculations. How long will this last?... In the evening, when we
had exhausted the discussion of every possible theory, somebody
remarked on the silence. I will always remember how, for some
inexplicable reason, that remark annoyed me immensely--made me nervous
and angry. Perhaps it was that after weeks of rifle-fire and cannon
booming, the colourless monotone of complete silence was
nerve-destroying. Yes, it must have been that; a perpetual,
aggravating, insolent silence is worse than noise.... But this will
mean nothing to you; experience alone teaches.

XVI

THE RESUMPTION OF A SEMI-DIPLOMATIC LIFE

20th July, 1900.

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