TRIUMPH.
This unforeseen victory, so brilliant and, complete, gained by Miramón
over veteran troops commanded by renowned officers, restored courage
and hope to the terrified partizans of the President of the Republic.
The temper of the troops changed to such an extent, that they no
longer doubted the triumph of their cause, and in a few minutes grew
to regard it as definitively gained. Amid the general joy, Miramón
alone entertained no illusions as to the value of the victory he had
gained. For him this new lustre cast on his armies, which had so long
been victorious, was only the last and brilliant flicker of an expiring
torch. He was too thoroughly acquainted with the precarious position
to which he was reduced, to entertain for a single moment delusive
hopes. Still in his heart he thanked fortune for the last smile she
had deigned to grant him, and which would prevent him from falling
from power like a common man. When the cavalry sent in pursuit of
the fugitives, to prevent them from rallying, at length rejoined the
main body, which had remained on the field of battle, Miramón, after
granting his troops two hours' rest, gave orders to return to Mexico.
The return of the expeditionary force was not nearly so rapid as its
preceding march. The tired horses only advanced with difficulty. The
infantry had dismounted to escort the prisoners, and thus the cannons
and numerous baggage waggons, which had been captured and now followed
the army, could only pass along a wide and beaten road, which compelled
Miramón to follow the high road and occasioned him a delay of several
hours. It was about ten at night when the vanguard of the expeditionary
force reached the garitas of Mexico. It was quite dark, and yet the
city appeared in the darkness, flashing with an innumerable quantity of
lights.
Good news, like bad, is propagated with extraordinary rapidity. Let
anyone who can solve the almost insoluble problem, but it is certain
that the battle was scarce terminated at Toluca, ere its issue was
known in Mexico. The rumour of the brilliant success gained by the
President immediately ran from mouth to mouth, though no one could
tell whence he obtained it. At the news of this unhoped-for victory,
the joy was universal, enthusiasm raised to its utmost pitch, and at
nightfall the citizens spontaneously illuminated. The ayuntamiento
awaited the President at the entrance of the city to offer him their
congratulations. The troops marched between two compact lines of
people, uttering frenzied shouts, waving handkerchiefs and hats, and
letting off any quantity of squibs, in sign of rejoicing. The bells,
in spite of the late hour, rang a full peal, and the numerous shovel
hats of the clergy mingled with the crowd, proved that the priests and
monks, so cold on the previous day for the man who had ever supported
them, had suddenly felt their slumbering enthusiasm aroused at the news
of his victory.
Miramón passed through the crowds, cold and impassive, returning with
an imperceptible expression of irony the salutations incessantly made
to him on both sides of the road. He dismounted at the palace; a little
in front of the gate a man was standing motionless and smiling. This
man was the adventurer. On seeing him, Miramón could not restrain a
movement of joy.
"Ah, come, come, my friend," he exclaimed walking toward him.
And, to the general stupefaction, he passed his arm through his and
led him into the interior of the palace. When the President reached
the private cabinet, in which he usually worked, he threw himself
into an easy chair, and wiping with a handkerchief his damp face, he
exclaimed with an ill-tempered tone: "Ouf! I am half dead! This stupid
recantation, at which I was forced to be present against my will has,
on my honour, wearied me more than all the other events of this day,
futile though it was in extraordinary incidents."
"Good," the adventurer replied affectionately. "I am glad to hear you
speak thus, General. I was afraid lest you might be intoxicated by your
success."
The general shrugged his shoulders disdainfully.
"What do you take me for, my friend?" he answered. "What a wretched
opinion you must have of me, if you suppose that I am a man to let
myself be thus blinded by a success which, brilliant though it may
appear, is in reality only one victory more to register, while its
results will be null for the welfare of the cause I support?"
"What you say is only too true, General."
"Do you fancy I am ignorant of it? My downfall is inevitable: this
battle will only retard it for a few days. I must fall, because, in
spite of the enthusiastic shouts of the mob--ever fickle and easy to
deceive--what has hitherto constituted my strength, and has sustained
me in the struggle I undertook, has abandoned me for ever. I feel that
the temper of the nation is no longer with me."
"Perhaps you go too far, General! Two battles more like this one, and
who knows if you will not have regained all you have lost?"
"My friend, the success of today's battle belongs to you. It was
owing to your brilliant charge in the enemy's rear, that they were
demoralized and consequently conquered."
"You insist on seeing everything in gloomy colours. I repeat again: two
battles like this one, and you are saved."
"These battles I shall fight, my friend, if they grant me the time, be
assured. Ah! If instead of being alone, blockaded in Mexico, I still
had faithful lieutenants holding the country, after today's victory,
all might be repaired."
At this moment the door of the cabinet was opened, and General Cobos
appeared.
"Ah! It is you, my dear General," the President said to him, holding
out his hand and suddenly reassuming a laughing air. "You are welcome.
What motive procures me the pleasure of seeing you?"
"I implore your Excellency to excuse me for venturing to appear thus,
without being announced; but I have to talk with you on serious
matters, which admit of no delay."
The adventurer made a movement to withdraw.
"Stay, I beg of you," the President said, checking him by a sign.
"Speak, my dear General."
"Excellency, the greatest disorder is prevailing on the Plaza among the
people and the troops; the majority are noisily demanding that the
officers taken prisoners today, may be immediately shot as traitors to
the country."
"What?" the President asked, drawing himself up and turning slightly
pale. "What is that you are saying, my dear General?"
"If your Excellency will deign to open the windows of this cabinet, you
will hear the cries of death which the army and the people are raising
in concert."
"Ah!" Miramón muttered. "Political assassinations committed in cold
blood after the victory: I will never consent to authorize such odious
crimes. No, a thousand times no! I at least will never have that said
of me. Where are the captured officers?"
"In the interior of the palace, under a guard in the courtyard."
"Give orders for them to be at once brought into my presence: go,
General."
"Ah, my friend," the President exclaimed with discouragement, as soon
as he found himself alone with the adventurer, "what can be hoped
from a nation so devoid of moral feeling as ours? Alas! What will the
European governments think of this apparent barbarity? What a contempt
they must feel for our unfortunate nation! And yet," he added, "this
people is not bad-hearted, it is its long slavery which has rendered it
cruel, and the interminable revolutions to which it has been constantly
a victim for forty years. Come, follow me; we must put an end to this."
He then left the cabinet accompanied by the adventurer, and entered an
immense saloon, in which his most devoted partizans were assembled. The
President seated himself in a chair raised on two steps, prepared for
him at the end of the room, and the officers who remained faithful to
his cause, grouped themselves on either side of him. At an affectionate
nod from Miramón the adventurer remained by his side, apparently
indifferent.
A noise of footsteps and the rattling of arms were heard outside, and
the captured officers, preceded by General Cobos, entered the hall.
Although they affected calmness, the prisoners were rather anxious as
to the fate reserved for them. They had heard the cries of death raised
against them, and were aware of the ill feeling of Miramón's partizans
towards them.
The one who walked first was General Berriozábal, a young man of thirty
at the most, with an expressive head, firm and delicate features, and
a noble and easy demeanour. After him came General Degollado between
his two sons; then two colonels and the officers composing General
Berriozábal's staff.
The prisoners advanced with a firm step toward the President, who on
their approach, hastened from his chair and walked a few steps toward
them, with a smile on his lips.
"Caballeros," he said to them with a graceful bow, "I regret that the
circumstances in which we are now unfortunately placed do not permit
me at once to restore you to liberty, but at any rate I will try, by
all the means in my power, to render you comfortable during a captivity
which, I hope, will not last long. Be good enough first to receive back
the swords which you wield so bravely, and of which I regret having
deprived you."
He made a sign to General Cobos, who hastened to restore to the
prisoners the arms which he had taken from them, and which they
received with a movement of joy.
"Now, caballeros," the President continued, "deign to accept the
hospitality which I offer you in this palace, where you will be treated
with all the respect that your misfortune deserves. I only ask your
word as soldiers and caballeros not to leave it without my permission.
Not that I doubt your honour, but in order to protect you from the
attacks of people ill disposed toward you, and rendered savage by the
sufferings of a long war: you are, therefore, prisoners on parole,
caballeros, and at liberty to act as you please."
"General," Berriozábal answered in the name of all, "we thank you
sincerely for your courtesy, we could not expect less from your
well-known generosity. We give you our word, and will only employ the
liberty you grant us within the limits you may think proper, promising
you to make no attempt to regain our liberty, until you have freed us
from our parole."
After a few more compliments had been exchanged between the President
and the two generals, the prisoners withdrew to the apartments assigned
to them. At the moment when Miramón was preparing to return to his
cabinet, the adventurer quickly checked him, and pointed to a general
officer, who was apparently trying to escape notice.
"Do you know that man?" he said to him in a low and trembling voice.
"Of course I know him," the President answered, "he only joined me a
few days ago, and he has already rendered me eminent services: he is a
Spaniard, and his name is don Antonio Cacerbar."
"Ah! I know his name," said the adventurer, "for I have known him a
long time unfortunately: General, that man is a traitor!"
"Nonsense, you are jesting."
"I repeat, General, that man is a traitor: I am sure of it," he said
forcibly.
"I beg you not to press the point, my friend," the general quickly
interrupted him; "it would be painful to me; good night, come tomorrow:
I wish to talk with you about important matters."
And after nodding kindly to him, the President returned to his cabinet,
the door of which was closed upon him. The adventurer stood for a
moment motionless, painfully affected by the President's incredulity.
"Oh!" he muttered sadly, "Those whom God wishes to destroy, he blinds!
Alas! All is now over, this man is hopelessly condemned, his cause is
lost."
He left the palace full of the most sinister anticipations.