re in a negotiation in which
the two parties had no common ground? None the less Bismarck consented
to receive M. Jules Favre, who held the portfolio of Foreign Affairs,
and who at the advice of Lord Lyons came out from Paris, even at the
risk of a rebuff, to see if by a personal interview he might not be able
to influence the German Chancellor. "It is well at least to see what
sort of man he is," was the explanation which Bismarck gave; but as the
interview was not strictly official he did not, by granting it, bind
himself to recognise Favre's authority.

Jules Favre met Bismarck on September 18th. They had a long conversation
that evening, and it was continued the next day at Ferneres, Baron
Rothschild's house, in which the King was at that time quartered. The
French envoy did not make a favourable impression; a lawyer by
profession, he had no experience in diplomatic negotiations; vain,
verbose, rhetorical, and sentimental, his own report of the interview
which he presented to his colleagues in Paris is sufficient evidence of
his incapacity for the task he had taken upon himself. "He spoke to me
as if I were a public meeting," said Bismarck afterwards, using an
expression which in his mouth was peculiarly contemptuous, for he had a
platonic dislike of long speeches. But let us hear Favre himself:

"Although fifty-eight years of, age Count Bismarck appeared to be
in full vigour. His tall figure, his powerful head, his strongly
marked features gave him an aspect both imposing and severe,
tempered, however, by a natural simplicity amounting to
good-nature. His manners were courteous and grave, and quite free
from stiffness or affectation. As soon as the conversation
commenced he displayed a communicativeness and good-will which he
preserved while it lasted. He certainly regarded me as a
negotiator unworthy of him and he had the politeness not to let
this be seen, and appeared interested by my sincerity. I was
struck with the clearness of his ideas, his vigorous good sense,
and his originality of mind. His freedom from all pretensions was
no less remarkable."

It is interesting to compare with this the account given by another
Frenchman of one of the later interviews between the two men[11]:

"The negotiations began seriously and quietly. The Chancellor
said simply and seriously what he wanted with astonishing
frankness and admirable logic. He went straight to the mark and
at every