Page:The rise and fall of the Emperor Maximilian.djvu/233

Rh turned away from the crown of Mexico only to be thrown back again upon those of Austria and Venetia, the latter now become an Italian province: perhaps, in imitation of his ancestor Charles V., whom he used to call the 'Poet Emperor,' and whom he thought to imitate, he had seen in his visions of the future the two sceptres merged in his own hand. At every step that we take through the mazes of this lamentable story (the result, as it is, of a double-faced policy), intrigues and conspiracies are continually obstructing our path.

Looking at all these underhand plots, to which Sadowa had given fresh life, we cannot be astonished that the Austrian court had taken offence, and forwarded to the Baron de Lago, its ambassador at Mexico, a despatch, which forbade the archduke to set foot on Austrian soil if he returned to Europe bearing the title of emperor.

After he had thought over M. Eloïn's letter, Maximilian, forgetting all the perils before him, and obeying only the voice of a mad ambition, again seized the reins of power; and having resolved to surrender himself into the hands of the clerical party, who promised him both men and money, he prepared to make an appeal to the Mexican people.