Unclouded Summer by Alec Waugh Read Free Book Online Page B

really lost the war at all, welcoming them on equal terms. We didn’t do either. It was a big mistake.”
    â€œBut surely you don’t think there’s any danger of another war.”
    Sir Henry shook his head. “No, I don’t think there is. The world must have learned its lesson. I don’t believe that any government could induce its citizens to go to war. But I certainly think that we’re going to have trouble with Germany again, more trouble than we need have had.”
    â€œThe trouble about the Germans,” said Ambrose, “is that though they’ve been causing trouble in Europe for the last two hundred years, they’re the only Europeans we English and Americans can unite in liking. They’re clean and practical and hard-working. They’re straight in business. They’ve the same ideas that we have, about Christmas, about family life. They’re generous and sentimental. The French and English don’t really like each other, nor do the English and the Americans, but both English and Americans like the Germans.Although the Germans with their absurd chip on their shoulder have been upsetting the peace of Europe for two hundred years, in between wars we can’t help liking them.”
    â€œThey’re so good-looking too,” said Madame Renan.
    â€œGood-looking, what do you mean? Square heads, fat jowls.” It was her husband who interjected that. It was the first time that he had spoken since the party had sat down. Like so many writers, he preferred to listen and collect impressions. He spoke now testily. “How can you say that they’re good-looking? It’s because they’re so unattractive-looking that they have this chip upon their shoulders.”
    But his wife would not agree with him.
    â€œNow chéri, how can you say that? You are thinking of the Prussians. Prussia is only a small part of Germany. Think of the South Germans, so strong and straight, with their hair like corn and their eyes like cornflowers, think of the Bavarians.”
    â€œAnd when may I ask have you visited Bavaria?”
    â€œIt is not necessary to visit a country to form an impression of its nationals. You have never been to America, but in your last play …”
    Renan cut her short with a quick impatient laugh that was practically a snort. “How like a woman. You base a whole philosophy of politics on your personal reaction towards one, I repeat towards one, your personal reaction towards one I admit reasonably handsome gigolo that you meet at two o’clock in the morning in a boîte. Because this particular gigolo …”
    â€œBut chéri, he was not a gigolo, on the contrary…”
    Their voices were upon a danger note. It was very clear to Francis that one of the family rows of which Judy had spoken was about to be enacted. He saw Sir Henry and Judy flash a quick glance across the table at one another, a glance of corroborative interrogation, then Judy nodded. With raised voice she intervened.
    â€œThat’s a most interesting point you raise, Monsieur Renan, about the Germans having a chip upon their shoulder because they are unattractive-looking. It’s rather curious, Henry, but do you remember the German Ambassador in Madrid saying exactly the same thing about the Japanese. He said the Japanese have sufficient aesthetic sense to realize that they are squat and hideous and they resent it. Do you remember how Aleck laughed? I wonder if Mr. Oliver knows him,by the way, Aleck Moore, he was your ambassador there then.”
    She turned to Francis as she said that. It was his cue to direct the conversation out of dangerous waters. He took it quickly.
    â€œI don’t know Aleck Moore personally but of course I know quite a bit about him.” As any American would. Aleck Moore was a public figure, a newspaper proprietor, who had become a diplomat; he had been the husband and was now the widower of Lillian