236 



PERU. 



free, but not vulgar or offensive ; and there play- 

 ed about his eyes and his mouth an expression of 

 coarse broad humour, which a glass or two of 

 wine, and a little encouragement, might, not im- 

 probably, have ripened into impertinence. The 

 old Marquis, whose heart was open with excess of 

 glee at the events of the day, was delighted with 

 his new guest ; and rising from the table, embra- 

 ced the astonished soldier, who was standing most 

 respectfully behind his chair. I was seated near 

 a friend, who, though by birth a Spaniard, was 

 a thorough Patriot at heart, and from being long 

 resident in Lima, had become acquainted with 

 every distinguished or notorious individual it con- 

 tained. I observed him fall back in his chair, and 

 in vain try to suppress a laugh on seeing the Mar- 

 quis embrace the bearer of the despatch. He told 

 me that our new friend was no other than one of 

 the most noted robbers in the country ; who, not 

 many months since, had been condemned to be 

 hanged, but had escaped with a sound whipping 

 through the streets of Lima. San Martin had 

 heard of him as a man of talents and enterprise, 

 and had given him the command of a band of 



