with Austria, with whom he established a definite alliance, enlarged later into the Triple Alliance, by the adhesion of Italy. He had, indeed, lost Russia for the time, but he determined "not to cut the wire to St. Petersburg," and to regain her favour as far as possible; so he effected a reinsurance by negotiating an agreement with Russia too. In due course, however, Russia once again drew away, and formed later the Dual Alliance with France.
Before entering upon times more recent, it is well to mark an important feature in the transactions thus briefly mentioned. Observe that Bismarck did not attempt merely to construct a triple league against France; he planned also to cast his lasso round the neck of Russia, so as to form an European combination of overwhelming strength. True, he did not succeed finally; yet for several years after 1872, and also for several years after 1884, he attained the goal of his far-reaching policy.
To proceed, not long after the fall of the Prince, the whirligig of diplomacy brought back his ideal in another shape. In 1895, the world was somewhat startled to discover that Germany and Russia, together with France herself, were in close and zealous confabulation. The "Break-up of China" was thought to be imminent, and the savour of an unparalleled carcass seemed wafted down the east wind into Christendom. No time that for western braves to be scalping each other. Accordingly,
