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If a diplomat says, "Yes," he means "Maybe."
If a diplomat says, "Maybe," he means "No."
If a diplomat says, "No," he's no diplomat.
But on the other hand,
If a lady says, "No," she means "Maybe."
If a lady says, "Maybe," she means "Yes."
If a lady says, "Yes," she's no lady.
H.L. Mencken.

Talley r

(1754-1838)

Talleyrand was a statesman who influenced the foreign affairs
of France from 1791 to 1834, incredibly surviving the political
tumult of the French Revolution, the Napoleonic era, and the
first and the second Restorations of the French Monarchy.

alleyrand set the pat- was impossible to resist the wishes ne'er-do-wells who were noto-
tern for diplomats of his parents, who impressed upon rious for their gambling and love
everywhere -- pre- him the wealth and splendour that affairs with beautiful, intelligent and
cise, polite, ironic, cool would follow from achieving high influential women.
T -- but his name also office in the church. They paid for
became a byword for a false, unscru- him to enter a religious seminary. This was the age of the salon, where
pulous knave. Although he was not Since he had no faith in religion, he those with a good education could
prepared to die for his principles, consoled himself in the arms of a discuss freely any subject under the
when it came to the best interests of young actress. sun. The grands salons were ruled
France he pursued prudent policies by great ladies who became the in-
of far-reaching wisdom. He was also When the inevitable happened and tellectual trendsetters in manners,
remarkable for his dazzling charm he was expelled from the seminary, morals, politics and culture. Talley-
and maintaining an imperturbable Talleyrand enrolled at the Sorbonne rand was attracted to this society,
serenity in the most stressful situa- University. He declared that living and thus entered the political arena.
tions -- often summing the situa- in Paris in the interlude leading up
tion up with a humorous quip in his to the French Revolution was a time On his deathbed, Talleyrand's father
gravelly voice. when a young man could "indulge asked King Louis XVI to make his
his physical, intellectual and moral son a bishop. The king, however, he-
For the first-born child of a French appetites". sitated, having the absurd idea that
noble family, the customary path to bishops should be celibate and vir-
wealth and honour was a military Despite an immoral lifestyle but tuous individuals. Although the dis-
career. But, the infant Talleyrand respecting his parents' wishes, in solute morals of the Abbé de Peri
had fallen from a chest of drawers, 1779 he was ordained as a priest, gord were widely known to all, Louis
dislocating his left foot and ren- becoming the Abbé de Périgord. XVI nevertheless owed Talleyrand's
dering him lame for life. A cripple In the following years he acquired father a favour. Thus, in 1788 at the
could not become a soldier. Thus, a number of religious sinecures, age of 34 Talleyrand was chosen to
it was his younger brother who be- which had the double benefit of ma- be the new Bishop of Autun. While
came an officer in the army and king him financially independent this was a further welcome source of
secured a brilliant marriage, while and leaving him free of any spiritual revenue, the new bishop had not the
Charles-Maurice Talleyrand de responsibilities so as to lead the life slightest intention of ever visiting
Périgord was condemned by his of an idle dandy. As soon as he was his diocese -- but events would dic-
family to become a celibate priest. able, he purchased a small house in tate otherwise.
Paris and joined the most fashio-
This was not at all what this so- nable pleasure-seekers of the In that same year, with bankruptcy
phisticated, worldly and ambitious day. Talleyrand's wit and charm staring him in the face, Louis XVI
young man wanted. However, it made him the leader of a group of was obliged to summon the States-

42 History