Page:Life in Mexico vol 1.djvu/150

130 his porter on some commission, a carriage drove up to the door, and three gentlemen presented themselves to Mr. M, requesting to speak to him on business. He begged them to walk in; and there entered a general in uniform, a younger officer, and a monk. Mr. M requested to be informed of their business, when suddenly the general, seizing hold of him, whilst the others went to secure the door, exclaimed, "we have not come to hear about your goods, we want your money." The poor man, astounded at perceiving the nature of his customers, assured them he kept but little money in the house, but proceeded instantly to open his private drawers, and empty their contents, amounting, in fact, to a trifle of some few hundred dollars. Finding that he had indeed no more to give them, they prepared to depart, when the monk said, "we must kill him, or he will recognise us." "No," said the officers, "Leave him, and come along. There is no danger." "Go on," said the monk, "I follow;" and, turning back, stabbed the Consul to the heart. The three then reentered the carriage, and drove off at full speed. A few minutes afterwards the porter returning, found his master bathed in blood, and rushing out to a neighboring gambling-house, gave the alarm. Several gentlemen ran to his assistance, but he died an hour after, having given all the particulars of the dress and appearance of his murderers, and that of their carriage. By these tokens they were soon afterwards discovered, and, by the energy of the Governor, then Count Ca, they were arrested and hanged upon the trees in front of our house,