The Rebel Chief (1865) Gustave Aimard A beautiful region of Mexico gripped by political turmoil in the 19th century, is beset by political upheavals, power struggles and revolutions. It is also the unlikely backdrop to an unusual romance.

"Well, Count," said the elder, "do you regret having followed my advice, and instead of being jolted over execrable roads, undertaking this journey on horseback in the company of your humble servant?""By Jove! I should be very difficult to please were it so," the one to whom the title of count was given replied. "I have travelled through Switzerland, Italy, and the banks of the Rhine, like everybody else, and must confess that I never before saw such exquisite scenery as that which I have gazed on for the last few days-thanks to you.""You are a thousand times too polite: the scenery is really very fine, and remarkably diversified," he added, with a sardonic expression which escaped his companion; "and yet," he remarked with a stifled sigh, "I have seen finer, still.""Finer than this?" the count exclaimed, stretching out his arm, and describing a semicircle in the air; "Oh, sir, that is not possible.""You are young, my lord," the first speaker resumed with a sad smile; "your tourist travels have only been child's play. This attracts you by the contrast it forms to the other scenery, that is all; having never studied nature except from an opera stall, you did not suppose that it could hold such surprises in reserve for you; your enthusiasm has been suddenly raised to a diapason, which intoxicates you through the strangeness of the contrasts which are incessantly offered you; but if, like myself, you had wandered over the savannahs of the interior, the immense prairies over which the wild children of this country, whom civilisation has despoiled, roam in freedom-like myself, you would only have a smile of contempt for the scenery that surrounds us, and which at this moment you are admiring so conscientiously.""What you say may be true," Mr. Oliver; "unfortunately I am not acquainted with the savannahs and prairies to which you refer, and probably shall never see them.""Why not?" the first speaker interposed quickly; "You are young, rich, strong, and free-at least I suppose so. What is there to prevent you attempting an excursion into the great American desert? You are in a capital position at this moment to carry out such an expedition; it is one of those journeys, reputed impossible, of which you will be able to speak with pride hereafter when you return to your own country.""I should like it," the count answered with a tinge of melancholy; "unluckily that is impossible, for my journey must terminate at Mexico.""At Mexico?" Oliver repeated in surprise."Alas! Yes, sir, so it is; I am not my own master, and am now obeying the influence of stranger's will. I have simply come to this country to be married.""Married! At Mexico! you, my lord?" Oliver exclaimed in astonishment."Yes," very prosaically, "married to a woman I do not know, who does not know me either, and who doubtless feels no more love for me than I do for her: we are related-we were betrothed in the cradle, and now the moment has arrived to keep the promise made in our names by our parents-that is all.""But in that case the young lady is French?""Not at all: she is Spanish, and I believe a bit of a Mexican.""But you are a Frenchman?""Certainly, and from Touraine to boot," he replied with a smile."That being so, allow me to ask, sir, how it happens that-""Oh, very naturally so; my story will not be long, and as you seem inclined to hear it, I will tell it you in a very few words. You know my name-I am Count Ludovic Mahiet de la Saulay; my family, which belongs to the Touraine, is one of the oldest in that province, and goes back to the first Francs; one of my ancestors, so it is said, was one of the leaders of King Clovis, who gave him, as a reward for his faithful and valiant services, vast prairies bordered by willows, from which my family afterwards derived its name. I do not tell you of this origin through any absurd feeling of pride.

Reproduction of the original: The Rebel Chief by Gustave Aimard