I knew that the boy had no father, that his widowed mother had but one other child, a girl younger than the boy himself.

I had once seen the mother and the little sister; I also knew the street on which they lived.

Arriving at the street, however, no one apparently had ever heard of the boy.

One and another through the whole length of the street was questioned, but none knew his name or recognized his description.

Excepting that I knew that trait of Mexican character which assists acquaintances to seclusion, when they are sought by strangers, I should have despaired.