who at least were spared the ravaging of our lands. And never for a moment
do we forget this. But you too must not forget that where the soil of
France suffered most there thickest lie our English dead, who fought for
England's freedom, yes, but for your freedom too. And it is we who stand by
you still, pledged to be once more at your side if the same peril ever come
again; though America, for whom nothing was once too good, should fail you
in your need.

"There, I have said what I wanted to say; what your best friends here have
been thinking this many a day. For your best friends are not, as you might
imagine, to be found in a certain section of our Press who for their own
political or private ends are prepared to encourage all your suspicions if
so they may injure the good name of our statesmen who meet you in council
for the common cause. Your best friends are the men who deplore those
suspicions; who beg you, as I do here, to get them swept away as being
unworthy of a great nation and a great alliance.

"For this end, Believe me, dear Madame, to be at your service as always,

"PUNCH."

_Here ends the letter._]

"And now, dear lady," said Mr. Punch, "let me say that, if there is
anything in this letter which seems--but only on the surface--to be
inconsistent with my profound devotion to your person, it is the first word
of the kind that I have put on paper since our friendship began. All
through the War and the hardly less trying times of Peace that have
followed it I have not once swerved from my loyalty to you. Accept, I beg
of you, the renewed assurance of my affection the most sincere, and, for