The Exiles

While Civil War raged in the United States, Napoleon III of France (nephew and heir of THE Napoleon), anxious to get his hands on Mexico's silver, invaded her in 1861 and imposed an Empire. Members of the nobility, both Mexican and French, insisted it be ruled by Maximilian Ferdinand of Austria. Guerilla resistance led by former President Benito Juarez saw the expulsion of the French, and the execution of Maximilian. 3 years later.

Paladin finds himself caught between an irresistible force and an immovable object as the re-instated Republic of President Juarez is desperately short of cash and the only available funds are in the form of treasury notes entrusted to a pair of French former aristocrats who refuse to believe that Napoleon has permanently abandoned them. Paladin is hired by the self-educated Largo Ortega who rose from the ranks to become one of Juarez's Generals and is now his Minister of Finance. --he's the irresistible force here, while the French couple represent the immovable object.

They are pathetic in their determination to deny the reality of the Revolution, and to cling to the Treasury notes that must eventually become worthless. Paladin's hand is finally forced, and the Couple's illusions are shattered. But Paladin handles the outcome with his usual tact.

Denial may have its uses, but they are obviously limited. With all due respect to Messrs Milton and Shelly, Napoleon III's famous Uncle summed it up best: "Victory belongs to the most persevering!"