174^ 



CHAPTER XI. 



Fearful dreams — My escape from Tacubaya — Going to Mexico— Colonel 

 Leon — My propositions to the German Colonels — Negotiations — 

 Madame Baz — A sad mistake rewarded by a bullet — At the head- 

 quarters of Porfirio Diaz — Mr. Hube my interpreter — Return to 

 Mexico — Two volleys fired at me — No harm done — A thunderstorm 

 as a peace- maker — Baron Magnus retains me in Mexico — What re- 

 sulted from it — Confusion in Tacubaya — A kind invitation to go to 

 Jericho, or elsewhere beyond the sea — Will not go — Female general- 

 ship against Mexican strategy — General Baz — Permission to go to 

 Escobedo — Thirty-seven letters of recommendation — My journey to 

 Queretaro — Mexican justice. 



During the following night I dreamt that I saw my husband 

 dying. The Emperor leant over him, held his hand, and said 

 with deep emotion, ' Oh, my dear friend, you must not leave 

 me alone now !' My husband called out my name. Fighting 

 was going on all around, and everywhere I saw blood and all 

 the horrors of battle. 



The same dream was repeated during the next night. 

 Again I saw my husband dying, and heard him loudly call my 

 name. Battle was raging again, all was dark, and from the 

 sombre clouds lightning was flashing every instant. The 

 third night I had again the same dream, my husband calling 

 out for me louder than ever. 



It was natural that such a dream, three times repeated, 

 should make me extremely uneasy, and the more so as I am 

 a believer in dreams. I made up my mind therefore to go to 

 Mexico, and to have an interview with Baron Magnus and the 

 commanders of the foreign troops, and try what I could do to 

 save the Emperor and my husband, who, it seemed to me, 

 were in the greatest danger. . ' . 



