s and footmen, did not know that Driscoll had not been
incommunicado against Madame la Marechale. Who could be? And Madame la
Marechale betimes had paid her respects to a third woman, who also was
but little more than a girl. She and the Empress Charlotte had discussed
both the prisoner and Jacqueline.

CHAPTER XXX

THE AMBASSADOR

"Receive then this young hero with all becoming state;
'Twere ill advis'd to merit so fierce a champion's hate."
--_Nibelungenlied._

In his bedroom at Buena Vista, the marshal's residence, Driscoll the
next day received a personage, and offered him a cigar. Declined, with
bow from shoulder. Hoped he would have a nip of peach brandy? Declined,
with sweep from hips. He _was_ a personage. Driscoll noted regalia,
medals, cordon; and apologized for the temerity of Missouri hospitality.

"Especially," he said, "as you're a Grand Divinity."

"Dignity, senor," the hidalgo corrected him, "Grand Dignity."

"You'll have to pardon me again," said Driscoll, "but I really didn't
intend any short measure at all."

It was the Imperial Grand Chamberlain himself. There were no
incomunicado doors before _him_; he came from the Emperor. The
Empress had spoken to His Majesty, having just had her discussion
aforementioned with Madame la Marechale, so that Monsieur le Marechal
had had to lift from his prisoner the ban of the incomunicado. But
monsieur had been extremely reluctant about it.

The Chamberlain's name went well with his exalted fourth degree of
proximity to the throne. It was Velasquez de Leon, a very bristling of
Castilian pride. He looked over the battered American in homespun gray,
and wondered where the mistake was. For, as arbiter of precedence,
appraiser of inequality between men, and supervisor over court functions
generally, he had been sent in the way of business. Driscoll felt sorry
for him.

"Just tell them to let me out of here," said the prisoner, "then I'll
call in on the Emperor whenever it's convenient for him."

"But, senor," the don objected testily, "with what status, pray? Has
your country a representative here? You must obtain a letter from your
ambassador, or have him present you."

Driscoll shook his head. "Can't," he said, "haven't any country."

The minion of etiquette despaired.

"But," Driscoll added, "I've got as good as credentials from what used
to be my country."

Velasquez de Leon grasped at the s