In the meanwhile political events advanced with a fatal rapidity. The deputation sent to General Ortega returned to Mexico without obtaining any capitulation. The situation was becoming excessively critical: under the circumstances, General Miramón displayed extreme self denial; not wishing to compromise the city of Mexico further, he resolved to abandon it on the same night. He therefore proceeded to the ayuntamiento, to whom he proposed to appoint a temporary President or Alcalde, who, through his previous relations with the triumphant party, would be able to save the city, and maintain order in it. The ayuntamiento unanimously applied to General Berriozábal, who generously accepted this difficult office. His first care was to request the foreign ministers to arm their countrymen, who would take the place of the disorganized police, and watch over and guard the general safety.
During this time Miramón made all his preparations for departure. Not being able to take his wife and children with him on a flight whose incidents might be sanguinary, he resolved to entrust them to the Spanish ambassador, by whom they were received with all the respect to which their unhappy situation gave them a claim. Had he wished it, Miramón would have gone away without having any violence to apprehend from Juárez' partizans. Naturally good-hearted, if he was regarded as a political adversary, no one hated him as a personal enemy. Propositions to escape alone had even been made him on several occasions, but with that chivalrous delicacy which is one of the noblest traits of his character, he refused, for he would not at the last moment abandon to the implacable enmity of their opponents certain persons who had fought for him and compromised themselves on his behalf. This feeling was assuredly honourable, and his adversaries themselves were constrained to admire this generous conduct.
Don Jaime de Bivar had spent a portion of the day with the general, consoling him as well as he could, and aiding him to gather together the scattered fragments—we will not say of his army, as it no longer existed—but of the different corps which were still hesitating which side to join. Count de la Saulay and the Duke de Tobar—for we will restore to Dominique the name that belongs to him—after keeping the ladies company for the whole evening, and talking with them about the strange events of the previous day, at length took their leave, feeling somewhat alarmed about the protracted absence of don Jaime, owing to the confusion that prevailed at the moment in the city; they had just reached home, and were preparing to retire for the night, when Raimbaut, the count's valet, announced López. The peon was armed as if for a dangerous expedition.
"Oh! Oh!" the duke said to him, "What an arsenal you have about you, López."
"Have you a communication to make to us?" the count asked.
"I have only this to say to your Excellency. Two and one make three."
"By Heaven!" the young man exclaimed, rising spontaneously, "What are we to do? We are ready."
"Arm yourselves as well as your domestics. Hold your horses saddled, and wait."
"Something is happening, then?"
"I do not know, Excellency. My master will tell you."
"Is he coming, then?"
"Before an hour he will be here. He gave me orders to remain with you."
"Good! Take advantage of that hour to rest yourself, López, while we get ready."
When don Jaime arrived at about eleven o'clock, his friends were dressed in travelling costume, had put on their spurs, and placed revolvers in their belts, and were now smoking and waiting, with their sabres and guns lying before them on a table.
"Bravo!" he said, "We are off."
"Wherever you like."
"Are we going far?" the duke asked.
"I do not think so, but there may be a fight."
"All the better," they said.
"We have nearly half an hour before us. It is more than sufficient for me to tell you what I intend doing."
"Very good. Go on."
"You are aware that I am very intimate with General Miramón," he continued.
The young men nodded an affirmative.
"This is what is happening. The general has collected about fifteen hundred men, and hopes, with this escort, to be able to reach Veracruz, where he will embark. He starts at one o'clock tomorrow morning."
"Have things reached this point already?" the count asked.
"All is over. Mexico has surrendered to the Juarists."
"All the worse. Well, let them settle among themselves," the count said. "It does not concern us."
"I do not see in all this," said the duke, "the part we have to play."
"It is this," don Jaime continued, "Miramón believes he can reckon on the fifteen hundred men who compose his escort. But I am persuaded of the contrary. The soldiers are attached to him, it is true, but they detest certain persons who are going with him. I fear lest they may allow themselves to be seduced, and Miramón in this way made prisoner."
"That is what will probably happen," the count remarked with a shake of the head.
"Well, that is exactly what I wish to avoid," he said energetically; "and for this I have reckoned on you."
"By Jove, you were right."
"You could not make a better choice."
"In that case, you two and myself, Leo Carral, and your two servants, form, a body of resolute men, in whom it will be possible to trust, in the case of matters taking a bad turn; moreover, your quality as foreigners, the care you have taken to live retired, and not to attract attention, will enable us to complete our task by concealing the general among us."
"Where he will be in perfect safety."
"However, all that I am saying to you is very uncertain at present: perhaps the escort will remain faithful to the general, and in that case, our escort becoming unnecessary, we shall only have to retire after accompanying him far enough from the city to place him in safety."
"Well, let us trust to Heaven," said the count; "there is about this young man something grand and chivalrous, which has attracted me, and I should not be sorry if the opportunity offered to do him a service."
"Now that we are agreed as to facts, suppose we set out," said the duke. "I am anxious to find myself by the side of this brave general; but I suppose, before all, you have provided for my mother's safety?"
"Be at your ease, nephew; the Spanish ambassador, at my request, has placed a guard of merchants belonging to our nation, inside the house; neither she, nor Carmen, nor Dolores, has anything to fear; besides, Estevan is with her, and owing to the credit he enjoys with Juárez, he alone would suffice to protect them efficaciously."
"In that case, off we go!" the young man exclaimed, jumping up merrily.
They wrapped themselves in their cloaks, and took their weapons.
"Let us be off," said don Jaime.
The servants were waiting in readiness. The seven horsemen left the house, and proceeded in the direction of the Plaza Mayor, where the troops were assembled. The Plaza Mayor was extremely animated, the soldiers were fraternizing with the people, talking and laughing as if the affair going on this moment was the most ordinary matter in the world. General Miramón—surrounded by a rather large group, composed of officers who had remained faithful to his cause, or who, too deeply compromised to hope to obtain favourable conditions from the conquerors, preferred accompanying him on his flight to remaining in the city—feigned a calmness and cordiality doubtless absent from his heart. He talked with remarkable freedom of mind, defending without bitterness the acts of his government, and taking leave without reproaches or recriminations, who through selfishness had abandoned him, and whose handiwork his downfall was.
"Ah!" he said, on perceiving don Jaime, and making a movement toward him; "You are really going with me? I had hoped that you would change your mind."
"Ah, General," he replied gaily, "the remark is most kind."
"You are well aware that you ought not to take it in ill part."
"The proof is that I have brought two friends of mine, who absolutely insist in following you, General."
"I beg them to accept my thanks. Happy is the man who, in falling from such a height, has friends to rende............