eat Lord
Palmerston, Minister of England, whom you of course have heard of here.
At the bottom you will see his own handwriting. Look at it and rejoice;
perhaps you will never have another opportunity. As I put unbounded
confidence in the honour of every gentleman, I leave the passport in your
hands whilst I repair to the posada to refresh myself. When you have
inspected it, you will perhaps oblige me so far as to bring it to me.
Cavalier, I kiss your hands.'

"I then made him another low bow, which he returned with one still lower,
and leaving him now staring at the passport and now looking at myself, I
went into a posada, to which I was directed by a beggar whom I met.

"I fed the horse, and procured some bread and barley, as the Gypsy had
directed me. I likewise purchased three fine partridges of a fowler, who
was drinking wine in the posada. He was satisfied with the price I gave
him, and offered to treat me with a copita, to which I made no objection.
As we sat discoursing at the table, the National entered with the
passport in his hand, and sat down by us.

"_National_.--'Caballero, I return you your passport; it is quite in
form. I rejoice much to have made your acquaintance. I have no doubt
that you can give me some information respecting the present war.'

"_Myself_.--'I shall be very happy to afford so polite and honourable a
gentleman any information in my power.'"

He won the hearts of the people of Villa Seca by the "formality" of his
behaviour and language; for he tells us that in such remote places might
still be found the gravity of deportment and the grandiose expressions
which are scoffed at as exaggerations in the romances. He speaks of
himself in one place as strolling about a town or neighbourhood, entering
into conversation with several people whom he met, shopkeepers,
professional men, and others. Near Evora he sat down daily at a fountain
and talked with everyone who came to it. He visited the College of the
English Catholics at Lisbon, excusing himself, indeed, by saying that his
favourite or his only study was man. His knowledge of languages and his
un-English appearance made it easier for him to become familiar with many
kinds of men. He introduced himself among some Jews of Lisbon, and
pronounced a blessing: they took him for a powerful rabbi, and he
favoured their mistake so that in a few days he knew all that related to
these people and their traffic. On his journey in Gali