I pointed to the chain and seals hanging from the watch-pocket of the petitioner. “They left you these! How do you account for it?”
“Ay Dios, cavallero! That is the strangest thing of all. I had both money—gold money—and this watch. It is one of considerable value, as you may judge for yourself.”
The old gentleman drew out a grand chronometer-like timepiece, with jewelled holes and strong gold cases—evidently worth a couple of hundred dollars.
“They left me this,” he continued, “and my money too! But what signifies that, since they have taken away the muchachas? Pobres niñas!”
“And they took only them?” I asked, becoming interested in the story of a robber episode so little in keeping with the ordinary experience.
“Nada mas.”
“Nothing more! And your fellow-passengers in the diligencia? were they alike sparing of their purses?”
“Fellow-passengers! We had none, señor capitan. There were but the four of us, as I’ve said—all members of my own family: for of course we count the good padre as one of ourselves. True, there were two or three other gentlemen who wished to get in with us at Puebla. They were strangers to me; and, not liking their looks, I chartered the diligencia for myself. I believe they came in another coach after us. I am sorry, now, we did not have them along with us. It might have been better. It could not have been worse!”
“But the padre of whom you speak—this hombre muy sabio—what has become of him?”
“Carrambo, señor! That is the strangest thing of all: they kept him too! After a time the robbers permitted my unworthy self to proceed on the journey. But the monk they compelled to remain. What a scandal to our Holy Church! I hope it will cause the excommunication of every ladron in Mexico, and have them devoted to the perdition they so richly deserve. This comes of having changed our government into a republic. It was not so in the old times, when Spain sent us a viceroy. Then there were no robbers, such as these audacious salteadores, that have this day deprived me of my dear daughters! Ay de mi! Ay de mi!”