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PERU. 



not of any great consequence, it might be thought, 

 since it was merely to be allowed, for once, to drive 

 in a carriage of her own through the streets of 

 Lima. Now this, which to us seems the simplest 

 thing in nature, is looked upon in quite a different 

 light in the capital of Peru ; for, although any one 

 might ride about as long as he pleased in a gig, or 

 a calesh, or in a balancin, no one ever presumed 

 to dream of entering a coach but a grandee of the 

 highest class. The Viceroy tried every argument 

 to free La Perichole's head of this most unreason- 

 able fancy, but all in vain : at length he was ob- 

 liged to set public opinion at defiance, and, at the 

 risk of a rebellion, to order a coach to be made for 

 the lady, whose folly was destined to render them 

 both ridiculous. How to traverse the streets with- 

 out being mobbed, was now the grand difficulty ; 

 for the Viceroy was pretty sure that he should 

 never behold the fair Perichole again if she went 

 alone : to go in the same carriage, however, was 

 too scandalous an abomination to be thought of,— 

 besides, it was not what the lady wanted, who must 

 needs go in her own carriage. In the end, it was 

 arranged that the Viceroy should lead in his coach 



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