Page:Life in Mexico vol 1.djvu/277

Rh thousand dollars in gold! Her delight and her fright were unbounded; and being a prudent old lady, she determined in the first place to leave the house, and next, to bring in her treasure poquito á poquito, (little by little,) to a room in Mexico, keeping the old house as a sort of bank. She did so; took a nice room, and instead of sleeping on a petate, (mat) as she had hitherto done, bought herself a little bedstead, and even a mattress; treated herself not only to chocolate, but to a few bottles of good wine! Such extraordinary luxury could not fail to excite suspicion. She was questioned by her neighbors, and at length entrusted her secret to their keeping. History says, that notwithstanding this, she was not robbed, and was allowed to enjoy her good fortune in peace. It is difficult to credit such a miracle in this land of picking and stealing, but my authority is beyond impeachment.

. . . Whilst I write on these irrelevant matters, I am warned that the coaches are at the door, and that we are about setting off for Tepenacasco, another hacienda of Señor 's, a few leagues from this.