Page:The rise and fall of the Emperor Maximilian.djvu/219

 's wish, came to Buena-Vista to ask advice from the marshal. In the meantime the now frightened ministers replied, that they were only too happy to continue to discharge their accustomed duties. The marshal, to whom Maximilian's envoy had confidentially broached the definite intention of his sovereign, who had now decided on abdication, replied that his majesty might leave and travel in perfect safety, and that he would take everything upon himself. The commander-in-chief thought, in fact, that the chances for the monarchy could now only get less and less, and he had not the heart to detain Maximilian, whom he left free to follow the suggestion of his own ideas. Delay, however, was especially necessary to allow the small French detachments, many of which were at this time six hundred leagues from Mexico, to get together and close in upon the main body. A sudden abdication would let loose the insurrection over the whole country: to obviate this, it was needful that Maximilian should feign a merely temporary absence, which would permit him to institute a regency which might lead the country on gently to another form of government. An abdication dated from Europe would be the only thing to prevent a great shock and to insure the safety of our army. This was the plan to which the marshal sought to incite Maximilian. At seven o'clock in the evening the prince was impatiently waiting in his palace the reply from head-quarters. At the moment it was handed to him, he was pacing up and down in a state of great agitation. After he had read it, he appeared somewhat relieved. The last words which he spoke before he left Chapultepec revealed all his thoughts:—'I can no longer doubt it; my wife is mad. These people are killing me by inches. I am thoroughly worn out. I am going away. Thank the marshal for