As don Jaime had predicted to him, the rather brutal4 manner in which General Márquez executed his orders, and the most illegal act of seizing the money, cast a fatal slur5 on the character of the young President, which up to this time had been pure from any violence or spoliation.
On learning this news, the members of the diplomatic body, among others the ambassador of Spain, and the Chargé d'Affaires of France, who were better disposed to Miramón than to Juárez, owing to the nobility of his character, and the loftiness of his views, had from this moment considered the cause of the moderate party represented by Miramón as hopelessly lost, unless one of those miracles, so frequent in revolutions, but of which no possibility could be seen, occurred. Besides, the comparatively large sum of the Convention bonds, joined to that which don Jaime remitted6 to the President, had not been sufficient to cover the deficit7, which was enormous, and had not even sensibly diminished it.
The greater part of the money was employed in paying the soldiers, who not having received a farthing for three months, were beginning to raise seditious cries, and threatening to desert in a body.
The army paid, or nearly so, Miramón began recruiting for the purpose of increasing it, so that he might, for the last time, try the fortune of war, resolved to defend, inch by inch, the power which had been freely entrusted8 to him by the representatives of the nation. Still, in spite of the confidence he affected9, the young and adventurous10 general did not deceive himself as to the deplorable state of his position, when opposed to the far more considerable, and really imposing11 forces of the Puros, as the partizans of Juárez called themselves. Hence, before playing the last stake, he determined12 to try the last resources in his power, that is to say, a diplomatic mediation13.
The Spanish ambassador, on arriving in Mexico, recognized Miramón's government; it was therefore to this diplomatist that the President in his desperate circumstances applied14, with the object of obtaining a mediation of the resident ministers, to try and effect the re-establishment of peace by conciliation15. He proposed to submit to certain conditions of which the following were the most important:—
Firstly.—The delegates chosen by the two belligerent16 parties, conferring with the European ministers and the representative of the United States, would agree as to the way of re-establishing peace.
Secondly17.—These delegates would nominate the person who was to hold the government of the whole Republic, while a general assembly resolved the questions that divided the Mexicans.
Thirdly and lastly.—The manner of convoking18 Congress would also be determined.
This despatch19, addressed, on October 3rd, 1860, to the Minister of Spain, terminated with these significant words, which fully20 displayed Miramón's lassitude, and his desire for a settlement.
"Heaven grant that this convention, confidentially21 attempted, may obtain a better result than those which have been proposed up to this day."
As was generally supposed, this final attempt at reconciliation22 failed. The motive23 was simple and easy to be understood, even by persons the least versed24 in politics. Juárez, master of the larger portion of the territory of the republic, felt himself in his government of Veracruz too strong, through his adversary's exhaustion25, not to prove intractable, he would not share the position by reciprocal conditions, but triumph fully.
Still Miramón, like a brave lion at bay before the hunters, had faith in his valiant26 sword which had so often been victorious27, he did not despair yet, or perhaps would not despair. In order to keep together the scattered28 strength of his last defenders29, he addressed to them a supreme30 appeal on November 17th, in which he strove to rekindle31 the dying sparks of his ruined cause, by trying to impart to those who still surrounded him, the courage which himself retained intact. Unhappily, faith had fled, these words fell on ears closed by personal interest and fear; no one would comprehend this supreme death cry of a great and sincere patriot32. Still, he must form some resolution, either give up the struggle and lay down the power, or attempt again the fate of arms, and resist to the last extremity33. The latter resolution was adopted by the general after ample reflection.
Night was drawing to its close; bluish gleams filtered through the curtains and paled the candles burning in the cabinet, to which we have once before led the reader to hear the conversation between the General President, and the adventurer. This time again, the same couple were face to face in the cabinet. The candles almost entirely34 burnt down, proved that the conference had been long, the two men bending over an immense map, seemed to be studying it with the most serious attention, while conversing35 together with some degree of animation36. All at once the general rose with an angry movement, and fell back into an armchair.
"Bah!" he muttered between his teeth, "What is the use of obstinately37 opposing ill fortune?"
"To conquer it, General," the adventurer answered.
"It is impossible."
"Do you despair?" he asked significantly.
"I do not, far from that, I am resolved to fall if necessary, sooner than yield to the law, which would be imposed on me by that villain38 Juárez, a hateful and vindictive39 Indian, picked up through pity on the side of a road by a Spaniard, and who only employs the learning he has gained, and the education he has received by accident, to distract his country, and plunge40 it into an abyss of misfortunes."
"What would you have, General?" the adventurer answered sarcastically41. "Who knows whether the Spaniard to whom you allude42 did not educate this Indian for the purpose of accomplishing a vengeance43, and with a prevision of what is taking place today?"
"Everything would lead to the belief, on my soul! Never did man follow with more catlike patience, the darkest schemes, or accomplish more odious44 actions, with such impudent45 cynicism."
"Is he not the chief of the Puros?" the adventurer said laughingly.
"Curses on the man!" the general exclaimed, with an outburst of generous indignation, which he could not overcome. "He wishes the ruin of our unhappy country."
"Why do you refuse to follow my advice?"
The general shrugged46 his shoulders impatiently.
"Good Heavens!" he said, "Because the plan you have submitted to me is impracticable."
"Is that really the sole motive that prevents you from adopting it?" he asked cleverly.
"And then again," the general said with a slight embarrassment47, "since you compel me to say it, I consider it unworthy of me."
"Oh, General, permit me to remark that you have not understood me."
"Monsieur, you are joking, my friend, I have so thoroughly48 understood you, on the contrary, that if you wish it, I will repeat to you word for word, the plan you have conceived, and," he added with a laugh, "which, with an author's self love, you are so anxious to see me carry out."
"Ah!" said the adventurer, with an air of doubt.
"Well, the plan is as follows: to quit the city suddenly, take no artillery49 with me, so as to march more quickly across country roads, surprise the enemy, attack him—"
"And beat him," the adventurer added meaningly.
"Oh, beat him," he said dubiously50.
"It is infallible; consider, General, that your enemies rightly consider you shut up in the city, engaged in fortifying51 yourself there in the provision of the siege, with which they menace you; that since the defeat of General Márquez, they know that none of your partizans keep the field, and that consequently they have no attack to fear, and march with the most perfect security."
"That is true," the general muttered. "Hence, nothing will be more easy than to rout52 them; a guerilla war is not only the sole one you can carry on at the present day, but it offers you almost certain chances of success, by unnecessarily harassing53 your enemies, and beating them in detail; you have the hope of seizing once more the fortune which is abandoning you, and of delivering yourself from your odious rival. Only gain the victory in three or four encounters with his troops, and your partizans who are deserting you because they believe you ruined, will return in crowds, and Juárez's formidable army will melt away like snow before the sun."
"Yes, yes, I understand the boldness of this plan."
"Besides, it offers you a final chance."
"What?"
"This, if you are defeated, of ennobling your overthrow54, by falling weapons in hand upon a field of battle, instead of letting yourself be smoked out like a fox from its earth, by an enemy whom you despise, and of seeing yourself in a few days constrained55 to accept a shameful56 capitulation, in order to spare the capital of the Republic the horrors of a siege."
The general rose, and began walking up and down the cabinet with long strides; presently he stopped in front of the adventurer.
"Thanks, don Jaime," he said to him, in an affectionate voice; "your rough frankness has done me good, it has proved to me that I have at least one faithful friend left in misfortune; well, be it so, I accept your plan, and will put it into execution this very day; what o'clock is it?"
"Not quite four, General."
"At five, I shall have left Mexico."
The adventurer rose.
"Are you leaving me, my friend?" the general said to him.
"My presence is no longer necessary here, General, permit me to retire."
"We shall meet again."
"Yes, at the moment of action, General. Where do you intend to attack the enemy?"
"There," said the general, placing his finger on a point of the map, "at Toluca, where his vanguard will not arrive before two in the afternoon: by making haste I can reach it before noon, and thus have the necessary time to make all my preparations for the action."
"The spot is well chosen, and I predict you a victory, General."
"May heaven hear you! I do not believe in it."
"Again your discouragement."
"No, my friend, you are mistaken: it is not discouragement on my part, but conviction."
And he affectionately offered his hand to the adventurer, who took leave and withdrew. A few minutes later don Jaime had left Mexico, and bending over his horse's neck, was galloping57 madly across country.
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1
consulate
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| n.领事馆 | |
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precipitated
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| v.（突如其来地）使发生( precipitate的过去式和过去分词 )；促成；猛然摔下；使沉淀 | |
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narrative
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| n.叙述，故事；adj.叙事的，故事体的 | |
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brutal
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| adj.残忍的，野蛮的，不讲理的 | |
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slur
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| v.含糊地说；诋毁；连唱；n.诋毁；含糊的发音 | |
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6
remitted
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| v.免除（债务），宽恕( remit的过去式和过去分词 )；使某事缓和；寄回，传送 | |
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deficit
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| n.亏空，亏损；赤字，逆差 | |
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entrusted
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| v.委托，托付( entrust的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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affected
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| adj.不自然的，假装的 | |
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adventurous
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| adj.爱冒险的；惊心动魄的，惊险的，刺激的 | |
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11
imposing
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| adj.使人难忘的，壮丽的，堂皇的，雄伟的 | |
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12
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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13
mediation
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| n.调解 | |
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14
applied
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| adj.应用的；v.应用，适用 | |
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15
conciliation
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| n.调解，调停 | |
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belligerent
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| adj.好战的，挑起战争的；n.交战国，交战者 | |
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17
secondly
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| adv.第二，其次 | |
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18
convoking
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| v.召集，召开（会议）( convoke的现在分词 ) | |
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19
despatch
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| n./v.(dispatch)派遣；发送；n.急件；新闻报道 | |
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20
fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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21
confidentially
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| ad.秘密地，悄悄地 | |
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22
reconciliation
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| n.和解，和谐，一致 | |
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motive
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| n.动机，目的；adv.发动的，运动的 | |
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24
versed
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| adj. 精通，熟练 | |
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exhaustion
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| n.耗尽枯竭，疲惫，筋疲力尽，竭尽，详尽无遗的论述 | |
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26
valiant
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| adj.勇敢的，英勇的；n.勇士，勇敢的人 | |
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victorious
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| adj.胜利的，得胜的 | |
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28
scattered
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| adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的 | |
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29
defenders
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| n.防御者( defender的名词复数 )；守卫者；保护者；辩护者 | |
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30
supreme
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| adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的 | |
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31
rekindle
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| v.使再振作；再点火 | |
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32
patriot
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| n.爱国者，爱国主义者 | |
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extremity
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| n.末端，尽头；尽力；终极；极度 | |
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34
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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35
conversing
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| v.交谈，谈话( converse的现在分词 ) | |
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36
animation
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| n.活泼，兴奋，卡通片／动画片的制作 | |
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37
obstinately
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| ad.固执地，顽固地 | |
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38
villain
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| n.反派演员，反面人物；恶棍；问题的起因 | |
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vindictive
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| adj.有报仇心的，怀恨的，惩罚的 | |
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40
plunge
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| v.跳入，(使)投入，(使)陷入；猛冲 | |
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41
sarcastically
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| adv.挖苦地，讽刺地 | |
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42
allude
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| v.提及，暗指 | |
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43
vengeance
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| n.报复，报仇，复仇 | |
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44
odious
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| adj.可憎的，讨厌的 | |
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45
impudent
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| adj.鲁莽的，卑鄙的，厚颜无耻的 | |
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46
shrugged
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| vt.耸肩（shrug的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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47
embarrassment
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| n.尴尬；使人为难的人(事物)；障碍；窘迫 | |
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48
thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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49
artillery
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| n.(军)火炮，大炮；炮兵(部队) | |
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50
dubiously
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| adv.可疑地，怀疑地 | |
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51
fortifying
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| 筑防御工事于( fortify的现在分词 )； 筑堡于； 增强； 强化（食品） | |
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52
rout
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| n.溃退，溃败；v.击溃，打垮 | |
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53
harassing
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| v.侵扰，骚扰( harass的现在分词 )；不断攻击（敌人） | |
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54
overthrow
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| v.推翻，打倒，颠覆；n.推翻，瓦解，颠覆 | |
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55
constrained
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| adj.束缚的,节制的 | |
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56
shameful
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| adj.可耻的，不道德的 | |
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57
galloping
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| adj. 飞驰的, 急性的 动词gallop的现在分词形式 | |
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