214 Ten Yectrs of my Life. 



of the Emperor, told him what it meant, and requestea hmi to 

 accept it, and return it to the Emperor at night. He took it 

 and put it on his finger ; but after a while he took it off again 

 remarking that he could not accept it. He must ^-hink it all 

 over. He became confused, and wen on speaking of his 

 honour, of his wife, and his child. 



'Well, Colonel,' said I, 'you are not well-disposed. Re- 

 flect about it, and remember your word oi honour and your 

 oath. You know that without you nothing can be done, and 

 to betray me would serve no purpose whatever.' 



Colonel Villanueva came to see how matters went on, but 

 without betraying that he was in the secret. Directly after him 

 came Dr. Basch, sent by the Emperor, but without any 

 money ; and Palacios left me about ten o'clock, not knowing 

 whether I might hope or not, but rather inclined to hope. I 

 told Dr. Basch I believed all would be right, but that I should 

 not know it for certain before the morning. 



In reference to the two cheques which the Emperor gave 

 me I mention a circumstance illustrating the character of the 

 Austrian minister. Baron Von Lago. The Emperor had de- 

 sired that the two papers might be signed by the foreign min- 

 isters, especially by that of Austria, who were so free with their 

 promises of money. Dr. Basch was entrusted with that com- 

 mission. When he entered the room and told his errand, 

 Baron Lago, forgetting all his diplomatic dignity, jumped about 

 the room like a rabbit pursued by Jimmy, tore his hair, and 

 cried piteously, ' We cannot sign them ! If we do we shall all 

 be hanged!' The other ministers present, though less undig- 

 nified, remonstrated also, and Baron Lago, whose signature 

 was already under the cheques, for he had signed in the pre- 

 sence of the Emperor, took courage by the cowardice of his 

 fellow representatives, and resolutely taking a pair of scissors 

 he cut off his signature ! 



When Dr. Basch returned with the mutilated cheques to his 

 master, and mentioned the fear of the Baron of being hanged, 

 the Emperor said, ' What would it matter if he were hanged ? 

 The world would not lose much in him.' 



When Dr. Basch returned from my house after my conver- 

 sation with Palacios, and told the Emperor what he had heard 

 from me, the latter seemed to be afraid that I would be swin- 

 dled out of iny cheques, which might be presented after he 



