Page:The invasion of the Crimea Vol. 9.djvu/167

 TORTURE SUFFERED BY P^LISSIEH. 137 he effectually prevented recourse to any such chap. scheme of action. ' The electric communication between France and Pedi6sier's headquarters had been made too com- plete to leave room for what people call the ' cross ' purposes ' occasioned in old times by distance ; yet it was with the equivocal despatch we last quoted — one expressing confidence, but importing distrust, and ending with the obsolete subject of a fancied campaign in the open — that the Emperor thus interposed — interposed, in the midst of a battle. When he sent off his message, the prepara- tive bombardment of the 17th of June had been raging for several hours. For, Pelissier, whilst kept in suspense, adhered course all the time to his practice of meeting the Empe- Peiissier. ror's orders by actions which set them at naught ; and unflinchingly went on preparing to execute his great siege attacks without knowing whether his fate — his fate within the next hour — would be to command the French army with the latitude on which he insisted, or not to command it at all. II. In maintaining these struggles against his sov- Theafflie- ereign, Pelissier, after all, was resisting the then bypaiasier; actual ' law ' of his country ; and, although this strong and proud man was accustomed to mask his sense of pain by outbursts of uncontrolled rage, he suffered, bitterly suffered, under words of rebuke and command, all importing that the ter-