For Jerome Bonaparte, who had temporarily suppressed the opposition of the Empire, the capture of the Sevastopol Fortress was indeed news worthy of celebration throughout the land, but all this depended on the authenticity of the news itself being able to withstand scrutiny.
If there turned out to be a joke at the other end of the telegraph line, akin to uncorking the champagne at halftime, the consequences of sending out the news would be far more serious than not sending it out at all.
In the situation where the information itself remained uncertain (without having first-hand battle reports, Jerome Bonaparte harbored skepticism, as in his recollection, the historical Sevastopol Fortress took a year to capture), announcing the news of Sevastopol's capture to the Parisians in advance would merely be embellishing the facts.
However, if the information proved to be a rumor, the consequences would be immeasurable.
