Escohedo takes precautioiis. 207 



the life of the Emperor were spared, or agree to grant other 

 advantages if time only were given him to enter upon negotia- 

 tions. 



Neither Baron Magnus nor the other representatives seemed 

 to realise the idea that the Emperor would be shot, even if 

 condemned. Wrapped up in the importance of their own posi- 

 tion, they forgot, as I said before, that the republican Mexicans 

 did not know much of those great states of Prussia, Austria, 

 Italy, and Belgium, which were several thousands of miles dis- 

 tant. They may therefore be excused for being more aston- 

 ished and amazed at all the bluster and fuss of their represen- 

 tatives than overawed. 



Whilst thus the ministers were full of the idea that the Mexi- 

 can Government would not dare to commit an act which would 

 be condemned, and perhaps avenged, by all European Powers, 

 I was perfecdy convinced that Juarez and his Cabinet would 

 not take the slightest notice of it, and that the death of the 

 Emperor being decided upon, nothing could save him but 

 escape. This was not my own idea only. I had heard the 

 opinions of Mexican republicans, who were not cruel them- 

 selves, and who felt great sympathy for the Emperor, but all 

 were sure that he would be shot. 



When I was with Baron Magnus in the Emperor's apart- 

 ments, the plan for escape being mentioned, the Baron declar- 

 ed it to be nonsense, and that it was not yet at all requisite to 

 think of such a hazardous enterprise. He seemed to have 

 great confidence in negotiations, and to believe that there 

 would still be time enough for escape, which he seemed to be in- 

 clined to think beneath the dignity of the Emperor. Money for 

 that purpose, however, seemed to be of very inferior importance 

 to the Baron, and he spoke as if there would be enough, in 

 case of need, to buy the whole garrison. 



Escobedo seemed also to take alarm at the idea of the money 

 the Emperor was supposed to have, for the report had spread 

 that the representatives had brought with them immense sums. 

 Now, as the General knew perfectly well the Mexican weak- 

 ness, he thought it well to take precautions. He separated all 

 the other prisoners from the Emperor, Miramon, and Mejia, 

 and trebled the guards. He also gave an order that all the 

 prisoners should be shot immediately if they only made an 

 attempt to escape. Before the arrival of the ministers it was 



