When it came to the turn of the French generals to speak, one of them began a long protest against the attack as too hazardous.  Several others brought forward pet schemes of their own for reducing the place.

“Enough!” said Pelissier, peremptorily.  “You are not brought here to discuss whether or how we should attack.  That point is already settled by my lord and myself.”

He looked at Lord Raglan, who bowed assent.

“We have decided to attack the outworks on the 7th of the month.”

“But I dissent,” began General Bosquet.

“Did you not hear me?  I tell you we have decided to attack.  You are only called together to arrange how it can best be carried out.”

“I have a paper here in which I have argued out the principles on which an attack should be conducted,” said another, General Niel, an engineer.

“Ah!” said Pelissier, “you gentlemen are very clever—­I admit your scientific knowledge—­but when I want your advice I will ask for it.”

While this conversation was in progress, the English officers present were whispering amongst themselves with undisguised satisfaction at finding that the new commander-in-chief of the French, unlike his predecessor, was well able to keep his subordinates in order; and, all useless discussion having been cut short, the plan of attack was soon arranged.

“Well,” said Lord Raglan, “it is all clear.  We shall begin by a heavy cannonade.”

“To last four-and-twenty-hours,” said Pelissier, “and then the assault.”

“At what hour?” asked Lord Raglan.

“Daylight, of course!” cried two or three French generals in a breath.

“One moment,” interposed General Airey.  “Day-break is the time of all others that the enemy would expect an attack; they would therefore be best prepared for it then.”

A sharp argument followed, and lasted several minutes, each side clinging tenaciously to its own opinion.

“Do not waste your energies, gentlemen,” said Marshal Pelissier, again interfering decidedly.  “Lord Raglan and I have settled that matter for ourselves.  The attack will take place at five o’clock in the afternoon.  That will allow time for us to get established in the enemy’s works in the night after we have carried them.”

“Of course, gentlemen,” said Lord Raglan, in breaking up the council, “you will all understand the importance of secrecy.  Not a word of what has passed here must be repeated outside.  It would be fatal to success if the enemy got any inkling of our intentions.”

“It’s quite extraordinary,” said General Airey to McKay and a few more, as they passed out from the council-chamber, “how the enemy gets his information.”

“Those newspaper correspondents, I suspect, are responsible,” said another general.  “They let out everything, and the news, directly it is printed, is telegraphed to Russia.”

“That does not entirely explain it.  They must be always several weeks behind.  I am referring more particularly to what happens at the moment.  Everything appears to be immediately known.”