This vital despatch was sent off in duplicate at midnight and reached von Blumenthal at 4 a.m.
He selects for himself a staff of civilians (the cab-met du ministre), which is divided into bureaux for the despatch of business.
On the following day the Austrian ambassador, Esterhazy, presented a despatch of a similar tenor from his court.
The higher floors commonly form warehouses where traders may store goods which have arrived or are awaiting despatch.