Page:Pictures of life in Mexico Vol 1.djvu/174

146 At the entrance of the court-yard stood a globose carriage, decorated with the usual allowance of gilding and glass, with the ponies harnessed, and postilion ready to mount them. On seeing this, I was about to retreat; under the impression that his reverence was going out; but recollecting that such preparation was but the usual custom of the country, I entered the court-yard, and knocked at a rather low side-door. It was opened by a swarthy domestic, who received me very graciously, and bade me follow her to an apartment where I could await the holy father's coming. I was led through an anteroom, and up two flights of stairs lighted with stained glass; when on arriving at the top of the second flight, and opening a door, I was somewhat surprised to find myself in the open air.

We were on the azotea, or flat roof, so generally belonging to good houses in Mexico, and used as a cool and pleasant retreat, particularly in the evening. Two-elegantly attired young ladies—whom I ascertained to be the priest's daughters—were on the roof; but becoming aware of the presence of a stranger, they retreated, with some show of precipitation, through a doorway opposite. They