one was
called Florence Kearney.

As it was now the third day after their arrival in Mexico, it may be
wondered why the young lady had not sought this information before. The
explanation is easy. Her father owned a country house in the environs
of San Augustine, some ten miles from the city; and there staying she
had only the day before heard that the captive train, long looked-for,
had at length arrived. Soon as hearing it, she had hastened her return
to town, and was now taking steps to ascertain whether her lover still
lived.

She did not think of making inquiry at the Acordada, though a rumour had
reached her that some of the prisoners were there. But surely not Don
Florencio! If alive, it was not likely he would be thus disgraced: at
least she could not believe it. Little dreamt she of the malice that
was moving, and in secret, to degrade in her eyes the man who was
uppermost in her thoughts.

And as little suspected she when one of the house domestics came upon
the azotea and handed her a large ornamental envelope, bearing the State
arms, that it was part of the malignant scheme.

Breaking it open she drew out an embossed and gilded card--a ticket. It
came from the Dictator, inviting Dona Luisa Valverde to be present in a
grand procession, which was to take place on the following day;
intimating, moreover, that one of the State carriages would be at the
disposal of herself and party.

There were but few ladies in the city of Mexico who would not have been
flattered by such an invitation; all the more from the card bearing the
name, Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna, signed by himself, with the added
phrase "con estima particular."

But little cared she for the flattery. Rather did it cause her a
feeling of disgust, with something akin to fear. It was not the first
time for the ruler of Mexico to pay compliments and thus press his
attentions upon her.

Soon as glanced over, she let the despised thing fall, almost flinging
it at her feet; and once more bent her eyes upon the Tacubaya Road,
first carrying her glance along the side of the aqueduct to assure
herself that her messenger had not in the meanwhile rounded the corner.

He had not, and she continued to watch impatiently; the invitation to
ride in the State carriage being as much out of her mind as though she
had never received it.

Not many minutes longer before being intruded on. This time, however,
by no domestic; instead a lady--like hersel