A little after midday, however, there came a change in their favour, brought by unlooked-for circumstances. Groups of people began to gather in the Calle de Plateros, swarming into it from side streets, and taking stand upon the foot-walk. Soon they lined it all along as far as the eye could reach. Not _pelados_, but most of them belonging to a class respectable, attired in their holiday clothes, as on a _dia de fiesta_. Something of this it was, as the scavengers were presently told, though some of them may have had word of it before without feeling any concern about it. Two, however, whom it did concern--though little dreamt they of its doing so--were only made aware of what the crowd was collecting for, when it began to thicken. These were Kearney and Rivas, who, knowing the language of the country, could make out from what was being said around them that there was to be a _funcion_. The foundation-stone of a new church was to be laid in the suburb of San Cosme the chief magistrate of the State himself to lay it--with all ceremony and a silver trowel. The procession, formed in the Plaza Grande, would, of course, pass through the Calle de Plateros; hence the throng of the people in that street. _Funcions_ and _fiestas_ are of such frequent occurrence in the Mexican metropolis--as indeed everywhere else in that land of the _far niente_-- that this, an ordinary one and not much announced, excited no particular interest, save in the suburb of San Cosme itself--a quarter where a church might be much needed, being a very den of disreputables. Still, a large number of people had put on their best apparel, and sallied forth to witness the procession. This did not delay long in showing itself. It came heralded by the stirring notes of a trumpet, then the booming of the big drum in a band of music--military. A troop of cavalry--Lancers--formed the advance, to clear the way for what was to follow; this being a couple of carriages, in which were seated the Bishop of Mexico and his ecclesiastical staff, all in grand, gaudy raiments; on such an occasion the Church having precedence, and the post of honour. Behind came the gilded coach of the Dictator--flanked on each side by guards in gorgeous uniform--himself in it. Not alone, but with one seated by his side, whose presence there caused Florence Kearney surprise, great as he ever experienced in his life. Despite the coat of diplomatic cut and its glittering insignia, he easily recognised his _ci-devant_ teacher of the Spanish tongue--Don Ignacio Valverde. But great as was his astonishment, he was left no time to indulge in it, or speculate how his old "crammer" came to be there. For close behind the Dictator's carriage followed another, holding one who had yet more interest for him than Don Ignacio--Don Ignacio's daughter! CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR. SIGNIFICANT GLANCES.