The German Colonels. 177 



Baron Magnus changed his manner at once when he heard 

 my plan, and how I was proceeding to carry it out. He Uked 

 my idea very much, but of course wanted to direct my move- 

 ments, and was very sanguine of a satisfactory result if I would 

 be guided by him. He ordered his carriage, and I drove to the 

 quarters of Colonel Kodolitsch, who was not at home, but whom 

 I found with Count Khevenhiiller. 



Colonel Kodolitsch was willing to go out and talk with 

 Colonel Leon, but only under the condition that Baron Magnus 

 had nothing to do with the whole affair, * as the Baron was 

 rather inclined to act as he pleased, and to appropriate the 

 merit to himself which was due to others.' I told him that I 

 had already made an engagement with the minister, and I 

 could not drop him now. The colonels then promised to speak 

 as soon as possible to their officers and men, and let me know 

 the result. Baron Magnus then went with me to Madame 

 Macholowitsch, the Mexican wife of an Austrian officer, where 

 I stayed that night. 



Next morning I saw the two colonels. Count Khevenhiiller 

 was for surrender. It was clear, he said, that General Mar- 

 quez had acted treacherously with regard to the Emperor, and 

 though he was ready to give a hundred lives for his sovereign, 

 he did not want to sacritice himself or his men for Marquez. 



KodoUtsch, however, was of the opinion that it was not 

 desirable to treat about surrender, without having first heard 

 reliable news from Queretaro, and ascertained the will of the 

 Emperor. Though he was willing to hear what conditions the 

 enemy might be ready to grant, he could not meet Colonel 

 Leon, as Marquez, who must have some suspicion, had issued 

 an order that morning threatening to shoot any officer or soldier 

 who should communicate with the enemy in any manner. 



I then requested them to give me a written authorisation to 

 treat in the name of the foreign officers and soldiers ; but they 

 thought this also too dangerous, and wanted me to go on my own 

 account and to make two propositions to Porfirio Diaz. The 

 first was that he should permit me, or another person, to travel 

 to Queretaro to inform the Emperor of the true state of affairs 

 in Mexico, and to know his will, for which purpose an armis- 

 tice should be made for seven days. If the Liberal General 

 would not consent to this, I should, under the circumstances, 

 offer him the surrender of all foreign troops, under the condi- 



K 



