An Indian Doctor. 160 



French and also the Austrians asserted that he would still ab- 

 dicate and return to Europe also. 



When the Belgians and Colonel van der Smissen left us for 

 Vera Cruz, Salm was also taken with the prevailing fever ; and 

 to come to a decision he went to Mexico, and after having 

 spoken- to Baron Magnus he called on the iSth on Father Fis- 

 cher and gave in his resignation, which, however, was refused. 



Meanwhile I remained ill at Puebla, in a very fine building 

 — I believe the Town Hall — which General Bazaine had 

 changed into a private hotel or casino, where higher officers 

 passing the city found better and cheaper accommodation than 

 at the hotels. I owed a good room in that house to the kind- 

 ness of General Douay. 



1 was indeed very ill with diphtheria, and sent for an Indian 

 doctor who had been recommended to me. His cure was 

 effective but disagreeable, for he gave me nothing but emetics. 



Salm returned to Puebla, but still hoping to retain some of 

 the Belgian and Austrian troops for his regiment he went to 

 Vera Cruz, where he found, however, that Van der Smissen 

 and his men had left. 



When my husband returned I was better, and we resolved 

 to go to Mexico, where we arrived on the 25th, and alighted 

 at the Hotel Iturbide. We saw of course Baron Magnus, and 

 were frequently in Tacubaya, at Hube, who gave very fine par- 

 ties. Salm, however, was much dissatisfied, for he had nothing 

 particular to do, and wanted employment. He called every 

 day on Father Fischer, who was now in the confidence ot the 

 Emperor ; the priest was very liberal with promises, but would 

 or could not keep them, or wanted only to gain time until the 

 French should have left' Mexico. 



This happy day at last came ; it was the 5th of February, 

 All Mexico was in a fever of excitement — a kind of sullen, in- 

 ward excitement ; for there were no cries of farewell or other- 

 wise to be heard, except by some French people who waved 

 their handkerchiefs, whilst the French soldiers cried, ' A Ber- 

 lin, a Berlin ! ' Salm and I witnessed this departure from a 

 balcony of the Hotel Iturbide. 



When the hated and despised allies had left the city, it was 

 as if a nightmare were taken from the breast of everyone ; and 

 if the people did not rejoice too loudly, it was because they 

 could not realise yet their happiness, and still feared Bazain-^ 

 and his insolent soldiers might returii. 



