good Rutson thought would give me pleasure and satisfaction.
Rutson is like my uncle Toby, and has a heart twice as big. He has been very kind to me and mine, and I praise and thank him daily in my heart in the silent hours of the night. This package gave me reading for two days; the day it came I dined at Chapultepec. The Emperor has a palace there; he dines at 3.30 p.m. There were present the Empress, and one of her ladies, four German naval officers, and a Mexican—all were of his household, I believe. It was mail-day for Europe; the Emperor had been busy at the palace writing (he told me) seventeen letters for the steamer. I got there a moment before he did, so he went into the sitting-room which joins the Empress's chamber. He opened her chamber-door and said "Carlotta, here's Mr. Maury." She came out immediately and commanded me to be seated, the Emperor and the other gentlemen standing. Presently her lady-in-waiting came in; I rose, but she touched me gently on the arm and said, "The Emperor wishes you always to be seated." The lady stood also. In a few minutes dinner was announced. The Emperor led off, and we all followed in single file. As I passed though the door, one of the "aids"—a baron—whispered in my ear, "On the Empress's left." The dinner—excepting the wines, the number of servants, and the liveries—reminded me very much of those Lucy Ellen[1] used to give us in our summer visits to Fredericksburg.
After dinner (say three-quarters of an hour) we, the gentlemen, led by the Emperor, went into the smoking-room. Gilt cigars were handed round; the Emperor did not smoke. Here he drew an arm-chair up into the corner, and seated me again, he and the others standing until their cigars were nearly finished. Then he took a seat, and commanded the others to be seated. Despatches were handed him, some of which he handed to me to look into. Presently he dismissed the gentlemen, and said, "Mr. Maury, you have something to say to me?" "Yes, sire; I can't manage immigration through the Ministers. I must transact business with you directly, and not through them; nor must they have
- ↑ Mrs. Maury's sister-in-law.
