The Missourian

by Eugene P. Lyle

  CHAPTER XXIX

  THE WHISPER OF THE SPHINX

  "La politique, premiere des sciences inexactes." --_Emile Augier._

  Jacqueline had divined in Bazaine another obstacle to her mission. Andyet it seemed preposterous that he should not be her staunchest ally,since Napoleon had found a marshal's baton for him in his knapsack, justas he had transformed his own policeman's club into a sceptre.Nevertheless Jacqueline had her doubts, and they were homage to her sex.In other words, she returned to Mexico to find that His Excellency hadmarried again.

  The very day after her arrival she called to see her dear friend, nowMadame la Marechale. The two women were hardly more than girls, but whoshall fathom the depth of their guile? They kissed each otheraffectionately on the cheek, and while the marshal was in the otherroom, reading the packet Jacqueline had brought him from Napoleon, theyexpressed earnestly their joy at meeting again.

  When Bazaine returned, madame rose to leave them to their "stupid stateaffairs." The marshal smiled, knowing how ravenous was his bride for thesame stupid affairs of state, but Jacqueline agreed that indeed theywere wearisome. Of course she might tell His Excellency much aboutParis, but as to politics--and her little shrug bespoke a Sahara ofignorance.

  In the packet delivered by Jacqueline, the Sphinx had by no means turnedoracle, and Bazaine wished to know what his crafty master would havesaid between the lines. But the first topic of their conference wasDriscoll.

  "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 somuch. I must know the campaign better. A plain soldier is dense atguessing, mademoiselle, while you--you have talked with Napoleon.If----"

  "Oh, don't be tedious. You alone hold the knight that means royaltytriumphant 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 canlift him off the board entirely."

  Bazaine rose from his chair and stood before her. "I am no poet," hesaid, "and these flowers of speech hide the trenches. My American meansthat I may have thousands more like him, and he is a good one to bemultiplied 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 ministerof finance, and it exuded woe. The French loans were exhausted byMaximilian's luxury and mismanagement, and therefore Bazaine wasinstructed not to advance a cent further. He was, moreover, to takecharge of the Mexican ports, and administer the customs. Here, then, wasthe annihilation of Maximilian's sway. Here was the whispering of theSphinx. France herself would take over the Empire.

  "Hardly," returned the marshal, "but we will frighten His Majesty intobettering his finances," and he handed her a confidential missive thathad accompanied the other. Bazaine was therein authorized, when thesecurity of the Mexican Empire absolutely demanded it, to advance tenmillions of francs.

  Jacqueline sank back disheartened. Not even Napoleon would help her. TheSphinx had not the courage of his own designs, and she contemptuouslyflung him out of her way. She would strive alone, and against him,Napoleon, among the rest. First of all, there was his captain general,the man before her.

  "Monsieur le Marechal," she began, as impersonally as though quoting adry paragraph of history, "there is a party among the Mexicans who fearthe republicans and what the Republic would do. Yet their hope for theEmpire is gone, and they want no more of it. These, monsieur, are themoderate liberals, and strange to say, they are the clericals too; in aword, the great landowners. They are for what is good in Mexico. Theydemand order. But they would not take it from the United States. Theylook to France--to France, which is Catholic, and liberal."

  "I know," said the marshal. "They have already hinted at annexation."

  "Annexation to France, of course. Now then, monsieur, if we stay at all,we shall have to fight the United States. But do you imagine that wewould undertake such a fight for Maximilian? Parbleu, the French peoplewould mob Napoleon over night. But, supposing we were to do it forourselves, and not for an impecunious archduke----"

  His Excellency's eyes blazed. "Ah, it would be a fight superb!"

  "And you commanding, Monsieur le Marechal. And behind you, with our ownpantalons rouges, those Confederates against their old enemies._Then_ would be the moment to set your knight on the chess board.And," she added insidiously, "France would need a viceroy over here."

  The plain soldier started as though shot.

  "Mademoiselle," he gasped, "you--_you_ are Napoleon! The_great_ Napoleon, I salute you, mademoiselle!"

  "Helas, monsieur, that I am not in a position to credit Napoleon III.with what I have said!"

  "Yet you wish me to believe that you are only inspired by him? Pardonme, mademoiselle, but _he_ is the inspired one, and--mon Dieu, I donot blame him!"

  "But it's very simple," said Jacqueline, "and honorable too.Maximilian's bad faith nullifies our treaty with him. Tres bien, we arefree, free to withdraw our troops. At least we may threaten as much.Then he will, he must abdicate, unless--well, unless he first sees YourExcellency's prisoner."

  She arose, feeling that she was leaving a good Frenchman behind her. ButMadame la Marechale appeared to bid her adieu, and Madame la Marechalelooked sharply from one to another, noting especially Bazaine's flush ofenthusiasm. The good Frenchman straightway became uneasy. AndJacqueline, riding back to Chapultepec in her carriage with its coronetand arms and footmen, did not know that Driscoll had not beenincommunicado against Madame la Marechale. Who could be? And Madame laMarechale betimes had paid her respects to a third woman, who also wasbut little more than a girl. She and the Empress Charlotte had discussedboth the prisoner and Jacqueline.