he convent of Santa Clara, where he asked that they
be received as guests by the sisters. Here, in the comfortless
_parloir_ of the retreat, he learned the reason of Jacqueline's
daring journey from the capital.

"I bring Your Highness," said she, "the most spiteful news my feeble sex
can ever bring."

Again the involuntary plea for fair tidings swept his face.

"And, and that is, mademoiselle?"

"'I told you so.'"

Maximilan's cheeks paled to the marble whiteness of his brow. He had
just heard the answer to the one question, to the one hope, of all
Queretaro.

"You, you mean Marquez?"

"Yes." And then she told him, and seeing how stricken he was, her
exasperation at his vain incapacity changed to pity for his breaking
pride--which may be called his breaking heart.

"But mademoiselle, I gave my empire into his keeping," he protested, as
though such trust in a man of itself proved that man's constancy. But
the messenger, but Truth, would not recant.

"Then," moaned the Emperor suddenly, "Marquez is not coming back?"

"Nor ever meant to, sire. Listen, Your Highness made him lieutenant of
the Empire, and sent him to the capital for aid. Bien, he turned out the
ministers. He broke into homes, and pillaged even the stanchest
Imperialists. He heard that Puebla was besieged by a Liberal general,
Porfirio Diaz, so instead of coming here, Marquez marches all his army
down there. You will observe, sire, that he wanted the road kept open to
Vera Cruz."

"But why? Tell me!"

"Ma foi, to sell the capital more easily. In any case to be able to save
himself."

"Sell the capital?"

"Just a little patience, sire. Now what did Diaz do, but take Puebla by
assault before Marquez could arrive? Then he turned on Marquez, and
Marquez turned and ran. Oui, oui, sire, he _ran_, ran like the
little ugly, skulking Leopard that he is. To cross a creek, he filled it
with all the ammunition, and kept on running, leaving his army
defenseless behind him. Groan if you must, sire; others have died in
groans. But the Leopard had done this kind of thing before, it should
have been remembered. He got back safely though, and squandered the army
that might have relieved Queretaro to do it. Mon Dieu, what that panic
must have been! One entire battalion surrendered to fifty guerrillas.
Yet the Austrian cavalry, the Hungarians, and some others fought, fought
with their sabres, and won victories too. Helas, they only proved what
might have bee