Anxiety about the EiniJeror. 191 



he was that I had come. As he had not heard yet anything 

 reliable of Marquez and IMexico, he was highly interested with 

 everything I told him, and very indignant at the behaviour of 

 Marquez, who assumed rights and an air of command which 

 could not be allowed to any subject. He distributed decora- 

 tions and titles as if he had been the Emperor himself. 



I mentioned my negotiations with Porfirio Diaz and the 

 colonels in Mexico, and m5^ visit in San Luis Potosi, as also 

 my interview with Juarez, which all interested the Emperor 

 very much.. 



Looking around, and considering the bad state of health of 

 the Emperor, I was very anxious that he should soon get out 

 of that disagreeable position, and asked him whether he had 

 yet done anything in this respect. Escobedo had paid him a 

 visit, but nothing had been said about the intentions of the 

 Liberals. I proposed to speak with Escobedo in the name of 

 the Emperor, and to try whether I could not bring him to 

 reasonable terms. I would induce him to come and see his 

 Majesty, or, if the latter was well enough to go out, to receive 

 him at some other place. The first thing, however, was to 

 make the Emperor and my husband a little more comfortable, 

 and especially to buy some fresh linen for them, which they 

 greatly wanted and missed very much. 



On going at once to see Escobedo, I found him in a very 

 good humour, as he expected the arrival of his sisters, whom 

 he had not seen for several years. He said that he could not 

 go out that day, but that the Emperor would be welcome if he 

 would come to see him, accompanied by myself and my hus- 

 band. Whilst Colonel A^illanueva went to procure a carriage 

 I went out to purchase some linen, and when that was done 

 we returned to San Teresita. 



The Emperor having got out of bed, and giving me his arm, 

 my husband also following with Colonel Viilanueva, we went 

 down the staircase into the street, where we found the hand- 

 some carriage of M. Rubio and an escort of four men. On our 

 way down the prisoners had come out to see the Emperor, and 

 all greeted him with much love and respect. 



Had the Emperor had a correct idea of the danger of his 

 position, which then and much later was by no means the case, 

 he would perhaps have thought sooner of escape, and not 

 missed so many very favourable opportunities which were 



