He knew that he could never again see this cathedral built upon the site of the great Aztec teocalli, destroyed by the Spaniards more than three hundred years before, without a throb of gratitude.
Ned's first resolve was to take measures for protection from the cold, and he placed his silver dollars in his most convenient pocket.

Then he left the trees and moved toward the east, passing in front of the handsome church Sagrario Metropolitano, and entering a very narrow street that led among a maze of small buildings.

The district was lighted faintly by a few hanging lanterns, but as Ned had hoped, some of the shops were yet open.

The people who sat here and there in the low doorways were mostly short of stature and dark and broad of face.

The Indian in them predominated over the Spaniard, and some were pure Aztec.
Ned judged that they would not take any deep interest in the fortunes of their rulers, Spanish or Mexican, royalist or republican.
He pulled his cap over his eyes and a little to one side, and strolled on, humming an old Mexican air.