The Alcazar 



dismal narrow front led us to anticipate. Our window com- 

 manded a good view of the pla-za^ at the opposite side of 

 which is the rounded chancel-end of the cathedral, rich with 

 flying buttresses. The inside is fine ; the stone roof struck 

 us as rather heavy ; there are beautiful windows of stained 

 glass. 



Next to the alcazar — a noble top-heavyish Gothic tower 

 surrounded by a mass of peak-roofed French-chateau-like 

 buildings. Before the courtyard was an iron railing. As 

 we walked in, the porter at the gate, judging by our get-up 

 that we were a couple of inquisitive Andalusian arrierosj 

 stopped us. 



" Nobody can enter ; it is the hour of the siesta^ and all 

 the garrison are asleep." 



" Cararnba ! we cannot help that. Nosotros somos cabal- 

 leros Ingleses que tenemos bula special para ver a todo. 

 (We are English gentlemen who have special license to see 

 everything) ; get you speedily to the snoring captain of the 

 garrison, and tell him that, with permission, we desire to 

 inspect the premises." 



The guardian of the gate, on hearing this, bowed very low, 

 and entering the fortress, shortly emerged with an artillery 

 captain, whom we begged to excuse {disimular) our disturbing 

 him, as we had only a short time in Segovia, and should not 

 like to leave it without inspecting this precious stone in the 

 battled tiara of Castille. He received us with great courtesy, 

 and showed us over the whole place. We fraternised the 

 more from finding we had many common friends among the 

 artillery officers at Seville. This alcazar is now converted 

 into a great (I believe the great) college of artillery. It 

 contains many magnificent rooms with richly-carved, embla- 

 zoned, and gilded ceilings. 



We saw the schools of design and of models, the 



347 



