"I know you daren't disobey them, dog that you are! Only such as you would be governor of a gaol like this: you, who turned coat and disgraced the sword you wore at Zacatecas. Do your worst, Don Pedro Arias! I defy you." "_Cascaras_! how swelling big you talk, Senor Captain Rivas! Ah! well. I'll let a little of the wind out of you too, before you bid good-bye to the Acordada. Even the Condesa, grand dame though she is, won't be able to get you clear of my clutches so easy as you may be thinking. La Garrota is the lady likeliest to do that." After thus spitefully delivering himself, he called to some prison warders in waiting in the court outside, and commanded them to come up to him. "Here," he directed, "take these two pairs and hand them over to the guard at the gate. You know what for, Dominguez?" The half interrogatory was addressed to a big, hulking fellow, chief of the turnkeys, who looked all Acordada. "_Por cierto, Senor Gobernador_," he rejoined with a significant look, after giving the prison salute to his superior. "I know all about it." "See, moreover, that they be kept all day at it; that's my orders." "Sure will I, Senor," was the compliant rejoinder. After which the man twitted with turning his coat, turned his back upon the place where he had been so ungraciously received, going off to more agreeable quarters. "Now, gentlemen!" said the gaoler, stepping up to the door of the cell, "_Por las zancas_!" CHAPTER EIGHTEEN. TYRANT AND TOOL. _El Excellentissimo Illustrissimo General Don Jose Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna_. Such the twice sesquipedalian name and title of him who at this time wielded the destinies of Mexico. For more than a quarter of a century this man had been the curse of the young Republic--its direst, deadliest bane. For although his rule was not continuous, its evil effects were. Unfortunately, the demoralisation brought about by despotism extends beyond the reign or life of the despot; and Santa Anna had so debased the Mexican people, both socially and politically, as to render them unfitted for almost any form of constitutional government. They had become incapable of distinguishing between the friends of freedom and its foes; and in the intervals of Liberal administration, because the Millennium did not immediately show itself, and make all rich, prosperous, and happy, they leaped to the conclusion that its failure was due to the existing _regime_, making no account or allowance for the still uncicatrised wounds of the body politic being the work of his wicked predecessor.