One of the pleasantest villages in the valley of Mexico is San Augustin
de las Cuevas--_Tlalpam_ by Aztec designation--both names due to some
remarkable caverns in the immediate neighbourhood. It is some ten or
twelve miles from the capital, on the southern or Acapulco road, just
where this, forsaking the valley level, begins to ascend the Sierra,
passing over which by Cruz del Marques, it continues on through the
_tierras calentes_ of Cuernavaca and Guerrero to the famed port of the
Pacific.
San Augustin is a _pueblo_, endowed with certain municipal privileges.
It boasts of an _alcalde-mayor_ with other corporate officers, and a
staff of alguezils, or policemen.
The heads of departments are mostly men of pure Spanish race--"gente de
razon," as they proudly proclaim themselves--though many are in reality
of mixed blood, Mestizos. Of this are the better class of shopkeepers,
few in number, the _gente de razon_ at best forming a scarce discernible
element in the population, which is mainly made up of the brown
aborigines.
At a certain season of the year, however, paler complexions show in the
ascendant. This during carnival time--"_Las Pascuas_." Then the
streets of San Augustin are crowded with gay promenaders; while
carriages and men on horseback may be seen in continuous stream passing
to and fro between it and the capital. In Las Pascuas week, one day
with another, half Mexico is there engaged in a gambling orgie, as
Londoners at Epsom during the Derby. More like Homburg and Monaco,
though; since the betting at Tlalpam is not upon the swiftness of
horses, but done with dice and cards. The national game, "monte," there
finds fullest illustration, grand marquees being erected for its play--
real temples erected to the goddess Fortuna. Inside these may be seen
crowds of the strangest composition, in every sense heterogeneous;
military officers, generals and colonels, down to the lowest grade, even
sergeants and corporals, sitting at the same table and staking on the
same cards; members of Congress, Senators, Cabinet Ministers, and, upon
occasions, the Chief of the State, jostling the ragged _lepero_, and not
unfrequently standing elbow to elbow with the footpad and salteador!--
Something stranger still, ladies compose part of this miscellaneous
assemblage; dames of high birth and proud bearing, but in this carnival
of cupidity not disdaining to "punt" on the _sota_ or _cavallo_, while
brushing skirts with bare-armed, barefooted rustic damsels, and
_poblanas_, more elaborately robed, but with scantier reputation.
After all, it is only Baden on the other side of the Atlantic; and it
may be said in favour of San Augustin, the fury lasts for only a few
days, instead of a whole season. Then the _monte_ banks disappear, with
their dealers and croupiers; the great tents are taken down; the
gamesters, gentle and simple, scatter off, most going back to the city;
and the little _pueblo_ Tlalpam, resuming its wonted tranquillity, is
scarce thought of till Carnival comes again.
In its normal condition, though some might deem it rather dull, it is
nevertheless one of the pleasantest residential villages in the Valley.
Picturesquely situated at the foot of the southern Sierras, which form a
bold mountain background, it has on the other side water scenery in the
curious Laguna de Xochimilco, while the grim Pedregal also approaches
it, giving variety to its surroundings.
Besides its fixed population there is one that may be termed floating or
intermittent; people who come and go. These are certain "ricos," who
chiefly affect its suburbs, where they have handsome houses--_casas de
campo_. Not in hundreds, as at San Anjel and Tacubaya, Tlalpam being at
a greater and more inconvenient distance from the capital. Still there
are several around it of first-class, belonging to _familias
principales_, though occupied by them only at intervals, and for a few
days or weeks at a time.
One of these, owned by Don Ignacio Valverde, was a favourite place of
residence with him; a tranquil retreat of which he was accustomed to
avail himself whenever he could get away from his ministerial duties.
Just such an interregnum had arisen some time after the stirring
incidents we have recorded, and he went to stay at his San Augustin
house with his daughter, the Condesa Almonte going with them as their
guest. Since their last appearance before the reader, all three had
passed through scenes of trial. An investigation had been gone into
regarding the Calle de Plateros affair--private, however, before Santa
Anna himself, the world not being made the wiser for it. Its results
were all in their favour, thanks to the stern, stubborn fidelity of
Jose, who lied like a very varlet. Such a circumstantial story told he,
no one could suspect him of complicity in the escape of the _forsados_;
far less that his mistress, or the Condesa Almonte had to do with it.
Don Ignacio, too, had done his share to hinder discovery of the truth.
For, in the end, it was found necessary to take him into the secret, the
missing cloak and pistols, with several mysterious incidents, calling
for explanation. But in making a clean breast of it, his daughter had
felt no fear of being betrayed by him. He was not the father to deal
harshly with his child; besides, it was something more--a real danger.
In addition, she knew how he was affected towards the man she had aided
to escape--that he held Don Florencio in highest esteem; looked upon him
as a dear friend, and in a certain tacit way had long ago signified
approval of him for a son-in-law. All these thoughts passed through
Luisa Valverde's mind while approaching her father, and steeling herself
to make confession of that secret she might otherwise have kept from
him.
The result was not disappointing. Don Ignacio consented to the
deception, and they were saved. Whatever the suspicions of Santa Anna
and his adjutant, both were baffled about that affair, at least for the
time.
Alike had they been frustrated in their pursuit of the _escapados_.
Despite the most zealous search through the Pedregal and elsewhere,
these could not be found, nor even a trace of them. Still, they were
not given up. Every town and village in the valley, in the mountains
around, and the country outside were visited by soldiers or spies--every
spot likely to harbour the fugitives. Pickets were placed everywhere
and patrols despatched, riding the roads by night as by day, all proving
abortive.
After a time, however, this vigorous action became relaxed. Not that
they who had dictated were less desirous of continuing it; but because a
matter of more importance than mere personal spite or vengeance was soon
likely to declare itself, and threaten their own safety. Talk was
beginning to be heard, though only in whispers, and at a far distance
from the capital, of a new _pronunciamento_ in preparation. And in
making counter-preparations, the Dictator had now enough to occupy all
his energies; not knowing the day or the hour he might again hear the
cry he so dreaded, "Patria y Libertad."
Meanwhile the people had ceased to speak of the stirring episode which
had occurred in the Calle de Plateros; thought strange only from the odd
circumstances attendant, and the fact of two of the fugitives being
_Tejanos_. The city of Mexico has its daily newspapers, and on the
morning after a full account of it appeared in _El Diario_ and _El
Monitor_. For all it was but the topic of a week; in ten days no more
heard of it; in a month quite forgotten, save by those whom it specially
concerned. So varied are the events, so frequent the changes, so
strange the Cosas de Mexico!