the purpose of keeping out intruders. There is a small chest on the
table, on which all eyes are fixed; and now, at a sign from Cordova, the
domestic advances, in his hand a chisel, which he inserts beneath the lid
of the chest, exerting all the strength of his wrist--the lid flies open,
and discloses some hundreds of genuine Havannah cigars. 'What
obligations am I not under to you!' said Cordova, again taking us by the
hand, 'the very sight of them gives me new life; long have I been
expecting them. A trusty friend at Gibraltar promised to send them, but
they have tarried many weeks: but now to dispose of this treasure.' In a
moment he and his friends were busily employed in filling their pockets.
Yes Cordova, the renowned general, and the two secretaries of a certain
legation at Lisbon--for such were his two friends--are stowing away the
Havannah cigars with all the eagerness of contrabandistas. 'Rascal,'
said Cordova, suddenly turning to his domestic with a furious air and
regular Spanish grimace, 'you are doing nothing; why don't you take
more?' 'I can't hold any more, your worship,' replied the latter in a
piteous tone. 'My pockets are already full; and see how full I am here,'
he continued, pointing to his bosom. 'Peace, bribon,' said his master;
'if your bosom is full, fill your hat, and put it on your head. We owe
you more than we can express,' said he, turning round and addressing us
in the blandest tones. 'But why all this mystery?' we demanded. 'O,
tobacco is a royal monopoly here, you know, so we are obliged to be
cautious.' 'But you came in the custom-house barge?' 'Yes, the
superintendent of the customs lent it to us in order that we might be put
to as little inconvenience as possible. Between ourselves, he knows all
about it; he is only solicitous to avoid any scandal. Really these
Portuguese have some slight tincture of gentility in them, though they
are neither Castilian nor English,' he continued, making us another low
bow. On taking his departure the general gave the steward an ounce of
gold, and having embraced us and kissed us on the cheek, said, 'In a few
weeks I shall be in England, pray come and see me there.' This we
promised faithfully to do, but never had the opportunity; he went on
shore with his cigars, gave a champagne supper to his friends, and the
next morning was a corpse. What a puff of smoke is the breath of man!

But here before us is a Hand-book for Spain. From wha