"You may be too pessimistic," said Lord Grenville, comforting his senior with a pleasant countenance. "We have not been without gains.
"More than three months have passed since the plan was initiated, and the costs of production for the French factories surely exceeded 500,000 British Pounds. Although we did not meet our initial target, it still inflicted a blow to their industrial competitiveness.
"Furthermore, following this affair, France will inevitably harbor resentment towards Austria and Italy, and driving a wedge between them is precisely our strategic direction.
"You have done very well."
The Duke of Leeds, who had braced himself for punishment, did not expect Grenville to offer such a "reinterpretation." He immediately turned to him and asked, "Do you really think so?"
"I swear," said the British Foreign Minister with a smile, "that's exactly what I put in my report to Congress."
