Page:Life in Mexico vol 1.djvu/343

Rh lighted with colored lamps, the walls entirely lined with green branches, and hung with fresh garlands of flowers most tastefully arranged. There was a great deal of gaiety and cordiality, of magnificence without ceremony, and of riches without pretension.

Although warned by various showers that a bad night would probably set in, and although it was too likely that the hospitality within the house would be extended to our coachmen, and even though the whole party were strongly pressed by the Marquesa to pass the night there, so that it was with difficulty we resisted her entreaties to remain, we did, in the face of all this, set off at twelve o'clock at night to return to Mexico; about seven carriages together, with various gentlemen riding. Though very dark, there was no rain, and we flattered ourselves that it would keep fair till we reached the city. The Minister of the Interior, who is married to a daughter of the Marquesa, Cn and I, and la Güera Rodriguez, set off in one carriage. Some carriages had lamps; others had none. Some had six horses—we had six mules, and an escort of dragoons. We had not gone two miles before a thunder-storm came on; and the black clouds which had been gathering above our heads, burst forth in torrents of rain. The wind was tremendous. All the lamps were extinguished. The horses waded up to their knees in mud and water. Suddenly there was a crash, followed by loud cries. A carriage was overturned, in which were the Señora I. and a party of gentlemen. In the midst of this awful storm, and perhaps still more bewildered by generous liquor, their coach-