Page:The invasion of the Crimea Vol. 9.djvu/62

 32 LASTING STRIFE BETWEEN chap. ' you. General, what are my views and my inten- . ' — ' tions. I reckon on your experience, your ' talents, and your patriotism to carry them ' into effect, and force Lord Raglan to help ' you.' * F.iissierto The Emperor had hardly despatched this letter the Minister L,. or war. when he found laid before him this telegram of the previous day from Pelissier to the Minister of War: 'A strategic discussion by telegraph with ' all the reasons for and against such or such a ' plan seems to me impossible. The detailed re- ' ports that I send you by every mail will con- ' vince his Majesty, I hope, that if I have not ' applied his plan, this is because it does not 1 seem to me possible to do so immediately with- ' out danger.' Louis Thereupon the enraged Emperor telegraphed i» Pelissier. to Pelissier : 'It is no question of discussion be- ' tween us, but of orders to give, or to receive. ' I did not say to you, " Execute my plan ; " I ' said, "Your plan does not seem to me adequate." ' It is an absolute necessity to invest the place ' without loss of time. Tell me what means you ' will employ to attain the object.' f Though Pelissier was himself, as we have seen, a fiercely choleric man, he yet seemingly knew how to meet the angry raging of others with a manful composure. In answer to the Emperor's Pelissier to missive, but addressing himself, as usual, to the the Minister -,. . „ -, ir t»/t • p ii-it i ofwar. Minister <>i War, Pelissier fenced J lghtly enough with the imperial notions by reverting to the
 * Rousset, v<.]. ii. pp. 211, 212. t Ibid., p. 212.