The Bridle Roads of Spain 



CHAPTER I 



On Thursday, October i6th, of the year of the Great 

 Exhibition, I embarked at the Waterloo station, where 

 I booked myself through to Paris for two-and-twenty 

 shillings. 



The carriage was full of foreigners. Opposite me was a 

 young German, by a curious coincidence, also on the way 

 to Spain. He was going by Lisbon, and I by Barcelona. 

 I begged him to call on me as he passed through Seville in 

 the winter ; but, separating at Southampton for our several 

 packets, we forgot to exchange names. 



At Southampton — which we reached about midnight — 

 we were rattled down in an omnibus to the pier. Here we 

 had to pay harbour dues, amounting to twopence each 

 individual, and a penny each package. 



A Frenchman who had been a fortnight in London, and 

 had not an atom of luggage, made great outcries at having 

 to pay his twopence. 



" Mais c'est infame ! Comment deux pence — puisque je 

 n'ai point de bagages — absolument rien ! 'Cr6 coquin de 

 pays ou Ton fait tout payer, meme les choses qui n'existent 

 pas, 'cristie ! " 



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