“To beg––”
“He is not one to whine for his life, sire. It is other business he means. But Your Majesty need not hear his business. Your Majesty need only see him. Besides, it would hardly be court usage, granting him an audience so informally, would it?”
“N-o, but if I am not to hear him, why should I see him?”
“To save his life, parbleu!”
“And why, since he is not concerned about that?”
“But I am, sire, and I count on Your Majesty to help me repay an obligation.”
Maximilian was quick at clemency, but no one likes to have his weaknesses played upon.
“Mademoiselle, who is this man? What has he done?”
“An American, sire.” Maximilian frowned. “A Confederate, I believe.” The frown vanished. “And Colonel Dupin believes him to be an accomplice of Rodrigo Galán. But he is not. He fought Rodrigo Galán, in–in my behalf.”
Maximilian frowned again. “And so,” he said, trying to do it lightly, “I have this unknown American to thank for the pleasure of seeing you, mademoiselle? Otherwise, I should not have known that you were here, and––”