leave, he urged him
to return to dinner, and charged a favorite officer to show L'Isle
everything he wished to see in Badajos, that he might be enabled to
report the condition of this stronghold to Sir Rowland Hill.

"I must communicate with Sir Rowland so speedily," said L'Isle, "that
I must be content with the pleasure of having breakfasted with your
Excellency;" and with marked respect he took leave of the governor and
his suite, having been treated--in diplomatic phrase--with
"distinguished consideration." Indeed, had Sir Rowland seen and heard
him during his audience, he would have patted him on the back, and
thanked his stars for giving him so able and adroit an ambassador.
Were it possible to become wise by the wisdom of another, Badajos
would have had a watchful governor. Prolonged watching is no easy
task, but L'Isle knew that if the Spaniard could be roused to a week
of vigilance, the urgent need of it would be over.

He spent an industrious morning, making himself agreeable to his
companion, while inspecting the resources of the place, and the day
was well worn away when his guide and escort took leave of him at the
posada. His business here finished, he wished to leave Badajoz at
once; and on looking for his groom, found him ensconced in the
kitchen, providently dining on a rabbit, stuffed with olives, and
draining a bottle of wine, baptized _Valdepenas_--addressing the
landlord's tawny daughter with a flattering air, and smacking his lips
approvingly, after each mouthful, whether solid or fluid, while he
abused both food and wine in emphatic English, throwing in many
back-handed compliments to the lady's beauty, and she stood simpering
by, construing his words by his manner.

On seeing his master enter hastily, Tom, who had laid in all the wine,
and most of the food set before him, got up respectfully to receive
his orders; while with a full mouth he mumbled out: "Prayer and
provender hinder no man's journey."

"You abridge the proverb in practice," said L'Isle, "leaving out the
prayer to gain time to take care of the provender." Then sitting down
at the table, he took out a paper and began to note down what he had
observed in Badajoz. "There is nothing very tempting here," said he
presently, glancing his eye over Tom's scanty leavings, "but a
luncheon will not be amiss; so I will take what I can find, while you
saddle the horses."

It was late in the day when L'Isle left Badajoz; but instead of
pos