Alvarez preferred as great a variety as he could get, and several
times descended to the kitchen to instruct Moggie Druster, the cook, in
the art of concocting dishes in the Spanish fashion, of which oil (and
of that there was an ample supply in Shetland) formed one of the chief
ingredients. He was made perfectly happy too with a package of tobacco,
which Rolf Morton obtained for him from Lerwick, and which he employed
his leisure moments in converting into cigarettes. Lawrence Brindister
also still further added to his satisfaction, by putting into his hands
five goodly volumes, on opening which he found to be Spanish; travels,
histories, and a romance--subjects exactly suited to the worthy Pedro's
tastes. They were strangely battered, and stained as with salt water.
How he had obtained them Lawrence would not say. The priest saw the
books, but turned away from them with a disdainful glance, as if he
could take no interest in subjects of a character so trivial. The
contrast between the two strangers was very great. Pedro Alvarez was in
figure more like an English sailor than a Spaniard. He was somewhat
short, and broad-shouldered, and stout, with a frank, open, and ruddy,
though sunburnt countenance; his large black sparkling eyes, beaming
with good humour, spoke of the southern clime which gave him birth, as
did his black curling moustache, and hair of the same hue. Father
Mendez, on the other hand, was thin in the extreme, with sallow
complexion, and sharp features, but his countenance showed that he
possessed a peculiarly intelligent and acute intellect. It could not be
said that there was anything unpleasing in the expression of his
features; it was rather the total want of expression which they
mechanically assumed when he was conversing, or when he was aware that
he was observed, of which any one would complain. It was not a stolid
look which he put on, but rather that of a person totally unconscious of
what was passing around; indeed, so perfect was the composure of every
muscle of his face, that it looked completely like a mask with a pair of
bright eyes gleaming through it. Though he kept those eyes perfectly
fixed, he had not succeeded in obscuring at pleasure their brightness.
Nothing could surpass the subdued gentleness of the tone of voice in
which he generally spoke, though he could at will raise it in a way to
astonish his hearers.

The long winter of Shetland was passing slowly by, without an