The tapestry behind them parted and fell. A light step crossing the room was suddenly arrested, and a low bewildered cry, half stifled in the utterance, arrested them.
“Fernando!”
The Emperor straightened and wheeled. Turning round, Jacqueline placidly surveyed a young girl, and her brows arched. She was not deceived. There was recognition in the startled gaze of the newcomer, and of Maximilian too. Only for Jacqueline did the situation hold aught that was amusing.
She was Mexican, a beautiful Mexican. She might have been Spanish too, or Moorish even, or perhaps to say that she seemed a gentle, drooping Egyptian would give the better idea of her dark loveliness. Under her skin, under a faintest tinge of brown, the rich blood drove its color through, and blending with that other shade, made the cheeks a dusky ruby, and seemingly softer and warmer. Her figure had prettily rounded curves, and her wine-red dress and the filmy black shawl over her shoulders deepened the tender, trusting depths of two large black eyes. The long lashes were wet with tears. She looked once at the calm French woman, as though afraid of her, and then at Maximilian, and at Maximilian alone. Her gaze was vacant, groping, non-comprehending, yet with a something of heartbreak in the beginning of comprehension.
To the Hapsburg came the dignity of proud generations, exalted above mere human scrutiny. He turned to Jacqueline, “As you see, mademoiselle,” he said coldly, “the stupid lackeys outside have admitted a second visitor. If you will excuse us––”
This time the girl’s moan throbbed with questioning. She was as far from understanding as before. But she noted unconsciously his princely bearing, his European dress, and the luxury about him in the transformed hacienda sala. Her eyes, in spite of grief and doubts, shone with timid, admiring love. “Que elegante!” she breathed. “Oh, is he not, truly, a caballero!”
“Fernando?” murmured Jacqueline. “Bonté divine, this is bucolic!”
“But Fernando,” the girl persisted, “who is there to–to admit me? I only come from my room.” With a tremulous gesture she indicated a door which the imperial scene shifters had covered with portières. Maximilian’s surprise at the existence of such a door was genuine. “And I find,” she cried, “I find you here, you, Fernando?”
“There, there, señorita,” said Jacqueline kindly, “His Majesty, I imagine, can explain––”