she might tell His Excellency much about
Paris, but as to politics--and her little shrug bespoke a Sahara of
ignorance.

In the packet delivered by Jacqueline, the Sphinx had by no means turned
oracle, and Bazaine wished to know what his crafty master would have
said between the lines. But the first topic of their conference was
Driscoll.

"Your prisoner is incommunicado then?" said she.

"Have no fears, he is comfortable, here in this very house?"

"He has sent no word to Maximilian of his arrival?"

"Not as yet, mademoiselle."

"And why not, pray?"

"Because I anticipated the honor of seeing you before permitting him so
much. I must know the campaign better. A plain soldier is dense at
guessing, mademoiselle, while you--you have talked with Napoleon.
If----"

"Oh, don't be tedious. You alone hold the knight that means royalty
triumphant or checkmated, and you know that you do."

"But you who are inspired, tell me how I shall play."

"You forget that I left this man to be shot?"

"Then I am to destroy him?"

Jacqueline shuddered. "That was my only way, but you, monsieur, you can
lift him off the board entirely."

Bazaine rose from his chair and stood before her. "I am no poet," he
said, "and these flowers of speech hide the trenches. My American means
that I may have thousands more like him, and he is a good one to be
multiplied even tenfold. Mademoiselle, _what_ am I to understand?"

"Does Napoleon's letter satisfy none of your doubts?"

Without a word he handed her the packet. It was from Napoleon's minister
of finance, and it exuded woe. The French loans were exhausted by
Maximilian's luxury and mismanagement, and therefore Bazaine was
instructed not to advance a cent further. He was, moreover, to take
charge of the Mexican ports, and administer the customs. Here, then, was
the annihilation of Maximilian's sway. Here was the whispering of the
Sphinx. France herself would take over the Empire.

"Hardly," returned the marshal, "but we will frighten His Majesty into
bettering his finances," and he handed her a confidential missive that
had accompanied the other. Bazaine was therein authorized, when the
security of the Mexican Empire absolutely demanded it, to advance ten
millions of francs.

Jacqueline sank back disheartened. Not even Napoleon would help her. The
Sphinx had not the courage of his own designs, and she contemptuously
flung him out of her way. She would strive alone, and against him