costed him.

"I am Monsieur Eloin," the stranger announced in English that could be
understood, "of Her Majesty's household. Also aide and secretary in
private to the Emperor. I see, you go to horse. It is well, sir. Mine is
outside."

"What's the answer?" asked Driscoll. "I'm not up on conundrums."

"It is that we go to Cuernavaca."

"You don't say! Now where's that, and what for?"

"Cuernavaca is His Majesty's country sit-down, about a douzaine of
leagues from here. You have not read of this morning the Journal
Officiel? Here it is. The court went there yesterday. His Majesty has to
need rest."

"But he was to see me to-day! What's the matter with him?"

M. Eloin's brow contracted narrowly, and he shrugged his shoulders. "His
Imperial Highness is much worked. He is worse of good health. Her
Majesty sought at having him stay, to give you that same-self answer he
had promised already. And the Marshal Bazaine, sensible this once, did
talk yesterday night before last, after you were there, and beseeched
him to accept your offer. And they all beseeched, Her Majesty and Madame
la Marechale, and I.--But, what would you?"

"I'm sure I don't know. What the devil----"

"No, not him! But her, sir, her!"

"Her, who?"

"Why, her. We all talk, argue, beseech; and she, in one little whisper,
she only tell His Majesty he has to need that rest--and, poof! off they
all go to Cuernavaca, and I know nothing. Her Majesty leave me a note. I
bring you it here."

"But who is the 'she?' You don't mean----"

"Yes, we others call her Jacqueline. She did it, against everybody who
beseech. But we--how you say?--we fool her, you and me. Come, we are
there to-night, at Cuernavaca."

"Just that little girl----" Driscoll murmured wonderingly.

CHAPTER XXXI

CARLOTA

"Der sicherste Weg nicht sehr ungluecklich zu sein ist das Glueck nicht
erwarten."--_Schopenhauer._

Everybody he met seemed to twist Driscoll's business into a vital
personal issue, and it did not take him long to place M. Eloin. The
supercilious Belgian of the rancid brow, as Driscoll mentally described
him, wanted the perpetuation of the empire, and he wanted it for the
very simple reason that the favorite of a realmless prince does not
amount to much. Hence he intrigued for the acceptance of Driscoll's
offer and for the confusion of Jacqueline.

A small escort of Belgians joined him and Driscoll at the garita, or
little customs house, on the edg