olonel Lopez. And you, Mademoiselle d'Aumerle, shall have a carriage.
We start this afternoon. You will be ready, mademoiselle?"

"Is Your Majesty quite resolved," Jacqueline asked in French, "that the
American must be tried? He can easily be found guilty, I warn Your
Majesty."

"And is that not reason enough?"

"Reason enough that he should not be tried, since he is not guilty. But
perhaps Your Majesty has thought of sending him under guard to the
frontier, back to his own country, where he would not longer be an
annoyance?"

"My dear young lady," returned the Emperor, "it seems that you expect me
to blot out the processes of law simply because even I cannot make them
infallible. But you do not answer my question. I offer you protection to
the City?"

"He must stand trial then?"

"Yes--but will you be ready to start this afternoon?"

"Your Majesty should know that I cannot accept."

"Does this trial interest you so much, mademoiselle?"

"Thanking Your Majesty," said Jacqueline coldly, "I should rather not
accompany him."

Maximilian swung on his heel and called Lopez aside. "Mi coronel," he
said, "when you follow to-morrow, you will offer to bring the Senorita
d'Aumerle, if she desires it.--And Lopez, you remember the young Mexican
girl we used to meet near here, during the last few evenings?"

"When you and I, sire, would ride over from Las Palmas incognito?"

"Yes. She was able to--to tell me much about the peon life, and I should
like to reward her in--in some way. Do you know, Miguel, I suspect she
lives on this very ranch. It was at the church here that we would meet
her, you know? And now, since I must leave, I wish you to find her.
Induce her to come with mademoiselle to the City under your escort.
Assure her that she shall have an honored place at court.--Jove, there's
my new order of San Carlos for women! She shall have that for--for
aiding my researches among the peons. Now, Miguel mio, do your best!"

With which words Maximilian turned back alone, and as he went, he
thought how as a simple man he had won a maiden's heart. He had been
learning that a prince may miss one or two very dear things in life.
"It's ended, the little ranchero idyl," he murmured. "But there's been
no harm. She shall not regret it."

CHAPTER XIX

A TARTAR _AND_ A TARTAR

"But all's brave that youth mounts and folly guides."
--_As You Like It._

As Maximilian crosse