La Bella Sofia 



was wafered up, it proved a blank as far as I was con- 

 cerned ; but knowing, that as many things in Spain are 

 very inefficiently done with much pomp and circum- 

 stance, the names on the list bear often but a very vague 

 resemblance to the real address on letters, I lingered 

 pensively studying the column of " cartas estranjeras" till 

 I fixed upon "No. 381, Don Gregorio Esqua," which I 

 asked to look at. 



I had but slight hopes, and the official seemed to hesitate 

 in giving it me, having so suddenly changed my name. But 

 I suppose he judged by my exclamation of delight on seeing 

 the handwriting, that I was the rightful owner, for he 

 allowed me to purchase it (at about twice its weight in 

 silver) and carry it away in triumph. In transcribing the 

 address he had begun boldly with the first Christian name 

 George, which he had rendered Gregorio — passing over 

 the intermediate writing as works of supererogation he had 

 taken the Esquire — slightly modified — for the patronymic. 

 However, I got my letter. 



By the way, we have met here the loveliest creature we 

 have ever seen in all Spain. We had a letter of " recomen- 



dacion " to her mother, the accomplished Marquesa P . 



We had heard she was very lovely from our friends in 

 Seville (but have learnt to mistrust the agreement of 

 Spanish and English tastes). Nevertheless on calling, the 

 day after our arrival, we were both struck, to use a base but 

 forcible metaphor, all of heaps. 



She has a splendid figure, tall and stately ; a beautiful fresh 

 clear complexion, rosy cheeks, and cherry lips (which are 

 very rarely combined with the raven tresses and flashing 

 eyes — the common, often the only, ornaments of her coun- 

 trywomen) ; and is besides very clever and fascinating. 

 We were both much struck, I said ; but Harry, whose 



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