180 Ten Years of my Life. 



for the rrosl absurd reports about my queer doings had reached 

 her ear. Much as I regretted the displeasure of that dear, 

 kind soul, I thought it better to let her think for awhile what 

 she pleased, and told her only that I was going to head-quarters, 

 on which she informed me that I should find Mr. Hube there. 

 Colonel Leon kindly lent me his handsome black Mexican 

 horse, and I soon arrived at the village of San Guadalup. 

 There, at the head-quarters of the Liberal general, fifty persons 

 •at least waited to see him ; amongst them I saw Mr. Hube 

 who looked on me with a very serious face. When, however, 

 I told him that I came as deputed by the foreign officers to 

 treat about the surrender under certain conditions, and re- 

 quested him to be my interpreter with Porfirio Diaz, his man- 

 ner suddenly changed, and he praised me beyond my merit. 

 I sent in my card, and was immediately admitted. 



The General is a man of meduun height, with a rather hand- 

 some face, and brilliant, dark, and very intelligent eyes. He 

 wore a blue cut-away coat with brass buttons, dark blue 

 trousers, and high boots, fie received me very politely, and 

 shook hands with me. He said that he had been informed by 

 his officers that I had to oft'er some condition from the foreign 

 troops in Mexico for surrender, and that he would hear what 

 they had to say. I asked whether he had received a letter 

 from Madame Baz, and he said he had, but of course wanted 

 more detailed propositions. 



Mr. Hube then spoke to him, and did it with much feeling 

 and in a most creditable manner. He implored the general to 

 agree to'the conditions, which would end at once all bloodshed ; 

 he pointed out to him all the consequences and advantages of 

 such a course, and the old gentleman felt so much all that he 

 said that he had tears in his eyes. 



The General did not like the proposed armistice for seven 

 days, and, as I ascertained at a later period, did not believe 

 me. He was convinced that I only wanted to go to Queretaro 

 to carry messages from the garrison of Mexico, which might 

 end with a plan to attack the Liberals. I cannot wonder that 

 the General thought so, for he knew what Madame Baz was in 

 the habit of doing, and believed that 1 was engaged in the same 

 manner in the cause of the Emperor. As to Marquez, he was 

 perfectly certain that he would employ the armis^'^^^ in fortify- 

 ing the city. 



