San Teresita. 193 



they were placed in a private house. Escotedo became proba- 

 bly soiViewhat alarmed, and the more so as he had the most 

 convincing proof that his Government was resolved to use the 

 utmost severity towards his prisoners. He therefore left it to 

 Refugio Gonzales to provide other quarters for the Emperor 

 and the Generals, and they were transferred to the convent of 

 Capuchins. The Emperor wished me to accompany him on 

 the way thither, and Colonel Villanueva went to M. Rubio to 

 request the loan of his carriage, which he got at last, after 

 waiting two hours for it. 



When the Emperor arrived at the Capuchins, and was shown 

 his room, he stopped on the threshold, saying, ' Certainly that 

 cannot be my room ; why, this is a vault for the dead. Indeed, 

 this is a bad omen.' 



Villanueva excused himself as well as he could, and went to 

 speak to Refugio Gonzales, but that man said, ' Yes, that is his 

 room, and he must sleep here, at least this night, in order to 

 remind him that his time is at hand.' 



It was indeed the pantheon, or burial-place of the convent ; 

 and it is an everlasting shame to this Mexican Government that 

 they could permit this cruelty to their distinguished prisoner. 

 I was indignant, and so was Colonel Villanueva. Escobedo 

 was informed of this proceeding, and the next day another 

 room was provided, from which the Emperor could walk into a 

 little yard. 



Three days later the law proceedings against the Emperor 

 commenced, and he was placed in solitary confinement. Colo- 

 nel Villanueva said to me on the first day, ' The thing is draw- 

 ing now to a close nothing can save the Emperor but escape.' 



