"What's that?" said Napoleon, who had been so busy with his
preparations that he had forgotten most of his Greek and Latin.

"Cause for war," said Barras. "Where were you educated? If you are
going to fight the Italians you've got to have some principle to
fight for."

"That's precisely what we are going to fight for," said Napoleon.
"We're a bankrupt people. We're going to get some principal to set
us up in business. We may be able to float some bonds in Venice."

"True," returned Barras; "but that, after all, is mere highway
robbery."

"Well, all I've got to say," retorted Napoleon, with a sneer--"all
I've got to say is that if your Directory can't find something in the
attitude of Italy towards the Republic to take offence at, the sooner
it goes out of business the better. I'll leave that question
entirely to you fellows at Paris. I can't do everything. You look
after the casus, and I'll take care of the belli."

This plan was adopted. The Directory, after discussing various
causes for action, finally decided that an attack on Italy was
necessary for three reasons. First, because the alliance between the
kings of Sardinia and Austria was a menace to the Republic, and must
therefore be broken. Second, the Austrians were too near the Rhine
for France's comfort, and must be diverted before they had drunk all
the wine of the country, of which the French were very fond; and,
third, His Holiness the Pope had taken little interest in the now