No doubt we had our views. Birdie and my own Staff disliked the idea of chancing mines with million pound ships. The hesitants who always make hay in foul weather had been extra active since the sinking of the three men-of-war. Suppose the Fleet could get through with the loss of another battleship or two how the devil would our troopships be able to follow? And the store ships? And the colliers?

Every one looked very sportsmanlike. M. Davilliers gave me his arm for dejeuner. He told me a great deal which I did not want to know about hunting-dogs. For instance, "Les chiens anglais," he said, "etaient tres raillants, tres percants, mais hesitants dans les fourres." So much Greek to me, but I pretended to understand.