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.
