A BREAKFAST. 



79 



timala, and that it would add to our security to have his 

 passport. It was the general's first campaign. He was 

 then only a few days in service, having set off in a hur- 

 ry to get possession of this town, and cut off Morazan's 

 retreat. He was flattered by the request, and said that 

 his passport would be indispensable. His aid and sec- 

 retary had been clerk in an apothecary's shop in Guati- 

 mala, and therefore understood the respect due to a 

 ministro, and said that he would make it out himself. 

 I was all eagerness to get possession of this passport. 

 The captain, in courtesy, said we were in no hurry. I 

 dismissed courtesy, and said that we were in a hurry ; 

 that we must set out immediately after breakfast. I 

 was afraid of postponements, delays, and accidents, 

 and in spite of impediments and inconveniences, I per- 

 sisted till I got the secretary down at the table, who, 

 without any trouble, and by a mere flourish of the pen, 

 made me " ministro plenipotentiary." The captain's 

 name was inserted in the passport, General Figoroa 

 signed it, and I put it in my pocket, after which I 

 breathed more freely. 



We returned to the house, and in a few minutes the 

 general, his secretary, and two mulatto officers came 

 over to breakfast. It was very considerate in them that 

 they did not bring more. Our guests cared more for 

 quantity than quality, and this was the particular in 

 which we were most deficient. We had plenty of choc- 

 olate, a stock of bread for the road, and some eggs that 

 were found in the house. We put on the table all that 

 we had, and gave the general the seat of honour at the 

 head. One of the officers preferred sitting away on a 

 bench, and eating his eggs with his fingers. It is un- 

 pleasant for a host to be obliged to mark the quantity 

 that his guests eat, but I must say I was agreeably dis- 



