that they could not see why these men should be hanged and shot by a
foreign prince, whom they had never invited to come and govern them.

From that moment they began to conspire against him, and his position was
becoming very unsafe, when Napoleon ordered his French soldiers to return
from Mexico.

Maximilian would not allow this; he reminded Napoleon that he had only
accepted the throne on the condition that the French soldiers were left to
protect him; but Napoleon III. paid no attention to his protest, nor to
the assurance that he would not be safe if the French soldiers were
withdrawn.

The orders to return to France were repeated.

Both Maximilian and Charlotte were fearful of the result of this rash act;
and as the Empress had been very successful in managing several difficult
affairs in the government of Mexico, it was thought best that she should
go to Napoleon and explain things to him, and get the order for the
soldiers to remain in Mexico.

She started on her long voyage, hopeful of success; but when she reached
France, Napoleon managed to avoid seeing her for months, and when at last
she was admitted to his presence, she found him cold, hard, and determined
to follow out his own plans.

The French soldiers should leave Mexico at all cost.

The poor young Empress had lived long enough in Mexico to fear the worst
for her husband if he were left to the tender mercies of the Mexicans.