44 RECOLLECTIONS OF FORTY YEARS. 



Nor did General Yaillant raise any when lie came 

 to confer with me on your behalf, and I really can- 

 not understand so sudden and complete a change of 

 front as your successive letters intimate. My con- 

 duct has hitherto been most consistent, and as I am 

 to-day sending to Paris the report which, as was 

 agreed with you, reserves all initiative on the part 

 of the Government until its reply arrives, it is 

 impossible for me to alter my course without the 

 most urgent cause. At the same time, as my mission 

 cannot be of any effect if I am harassed in all direc- 

 tions, I am quite prepared to inform the Eoman 

 authorities that I shall retire to head-quarters if 

 within a week from the present time a solution is not 

 offered us, either by the acceptance of our original pro- 

 posals or by a counter scheme which would change 

 the form of it without altering its spirit. As to illu- 

 sions, I have none. Nothing surprises me from any- 

 body, and I am quite equal to meeting all the officious 

 insinuations designed to make me deviate from the 

 course which I have adopted. 



" The honour of the army is as dear to me, General, 

 as it is to you ; but at the same time I set great store 

 by the written and verbal instructions of my Govern- 

 ment, and of public opinion in France. Do you 

 desire, yes or no, to enter Eome by force and assume 

 the offensive without having been attacked, or having 

 received any formal orders ? "When you have once 

 reached the gates of Eome, and destroyed its walls 



