Plans fo)' Escape. 203 



about it in the presence of the Emperor, which, However, 

 ended with my doing his will. 



I had been in such a hurry to leave that I was afraid my 

 delaying might cause some comment or suspicion, and I had 

 to think of some n^se to explain it. I therefore went to Esco- 

 bedo, feigned to be much afraid of Porfirio Diaz, and that he 

 might not respect his letter and detain me, or send me out of 

 the country. I requested the General to procure me a permis- 

 sion from Juarez to go to Mexico and return. Escobedo pro- 

 tested that his letter would be perfectly sufficient, but I in- 

 sisted, and ot course made him do w4iat I wanted, though he 

 shrugged his shoulders and shook his head. 



He telegraphed to Juarez, and as I had to w^ait for an 

 answer, my remaining in the city w^as explained. 



The Emperor believed that I had gone, and was very much 

 astonished when I came to see him. When I told him how I 

 had managed with Escobedo his face lit up, and he said 

 laughingly, ' Well, my dear Princess, whenever I become free 

 I shall certainly make you my Secretary of Foreign Affairs.' 



Though I had to yield to the will of my husband, I did so 

 with a very heavy heart, for I was perfectly convinced that his 

 plan of escape was all moonshine, and w^ould end in nothing 

 but bringing forth new difliculties and dangers. I therefore 

 was anxious to procure means for carrying out my intentions 

 as far as it was possible, without my going myself to Mexico. 



Mr. Dans, the lively partner of Mr. Bahnsen, was going to 

 that city. Though we dared not trust him with all the com- 

 missions which the Emperor had confided to me, especially 

 with the collection of considerable sums which would have 

 raised suspicion, he was charged with verbal messages to Baron 

 Magnus and the counsel, in order to hurry their arrival in 

 Queretaro, for, as I said before, Baron Magnus was the only 

 man who was likely to procure the money I wanted. 



On June 2, the Emperor received a telegram from 'Mexico, 

 informing him that Baron Magnus and the two lawyers were 

 on their way to Queretaro ; the ostensible object of my jour- 

 ney being thus fulfilled, my departure was no longer required. 



This telegram interfered also with fhe plan of escape 

 arranged by my husband, which was to be carried out that very 

 night. The Emperor, to whom the idea of escape had always 

 been repugnant, w^as glad to find a pretext or reason to post- 



