Neither he nor Palmerston " most strangely believed" in any proposition so obviously and palpably absurd, nor did Napoleon delude himself with philanthropy.
In the case of Palmerston they were unanimous in warning new colleagues that they might expect to be sacrificed by him to any momentary personal object.
For nearly a year the private secretary had watched the board arranging itself for the collision between the Legation and Delane who stood behind the Palmerston Ministry.