Page:Pictures of life in Mexico Vol 1.djvu/284

256 A gentleman named Commaña had admitted a poor Mestizo into his household in the capacity of servant; and had treated him with infinitely more indulgence and consideration than usually falls to the lot of domestics in this country. By-and-bye, however, he found that the Mestizo was in the habit of stealing in and out of the house from time to time; and it was at last discovered that he had taken many portable articles of value with him. He was arrested on suspicion; tried upon several charges, which were proved against him; and imprisoned for many months in the Accordada.

He occupied himself during his long incarceration, in scheming to revenge himself upon his prosecutor; and being a most malignant and determined villain, he resolved to employ the most dreadful means of vengeance at his command.

On his liberation, he joined a crew of miscreants but lately released from prison, who frequented a dirty street in one of the worst quarters of the town, and arranged with them to rob the mansion of his late master—for profit; and to use vitriol in disfiguring the inmates—for revenge. They, therefore, procured