132 SECRET TERMS OF NIEl/S MISSION. CHAP. V. The l>are facts. The light thrown by this chap- ter on Can- robert's successive ' absten- ' tions.' justify any concealment from Lord Eaglan of this newly formed plan which — already in course of execution — was surely, though secretly, altering the whole spirit and tenor of that share of war- like duty which the French had engaged to assume. Apart from all question of motive and con- science, the bare facts seem plain. From the time when Niel's ' mission ' came into full play, General Canrobert's course of action fell out of all harmony with his enterprising engage- ments of the 1st of January, and conformed to all the restrictions imposed by the Emperor's plan. Thus in knowledge of the Emperor's plan, or rather of its heavy incumbency on the French Headquarters, we have found means that help to account for General Canrobert's tolerance of all the counter-approaches, and the same light will usefully fall on those other ' abstentions ' of his to which we shall presently come.
