.SG 



CHAPTER XII. 



Arrival before Queretavo — Visit to E?cobedo's head-qnai-ters — One who 

 had 'known me intimately' — ^Journey to San Luis Potosi — Lieut. - 

 Colonel Aspirez — An audience with President Juarez — M. Iglesia — ■ 

 The fall of Queretaro — The Emperor and my husband prisoners — ■ 

 Journey to Queretaro — San Teresita — My first interviev/ with the 

 Emperor — His prison — I arrange a meeting between the Emperor and 

 General Escobedo — What happened in the Hacienda de Hercules — 

 General Refugio Gonzales a INIarplot — The convent of the Capuchins — 

 The Emperor forced to remain in a grave vault — Colonel Villanueva. 



When I arrived on the height of the Cuesta China I could 

 overlook the whole of Queretaro ; and from that city they had 

 also noticed my bright yellow carriage-and-four and escort, and 

 took me for Juarez, as I was afterwards told- 



Little as I understand about military art, it seemed to me 

 most injudicious to make a place like Queretaro as it were the 

 keystone of tlie whole war. The town is surrounded by hills, 

 which are most favourable to the establishment of batteries, and 

 whence every street and every house can be seen. It is a 

 regular mousetrap. 



As I drove down- the hill to the Hacienda de Herecules, 

 which belonged to M. Rubio, to whom one of Generaal Baz's 

 letters was addressed, I every moment expected that I should 

 be fired at by the guns from the city, for I was everywhere 

 within range. 



The head-quarters of General Escobedo vv'ere on the othef 

 side of the Rio Blanca, on the slope of a hill called La Cantera. 

 As I had a letter for him, and was anxious to see him, I dressed 

 at once to go there on horseback. I procured a horse, but as 

 there was no lady's saddle to be had, I had to ride on a com- 

 mon wooden Mexican saddle, though lady fashion, which was 



