Vulgar words in A Year's Journey through France and Part of Spain, 1777 - Volume 1 (Page 1)
This book at a glance
|
~ ~ ~ Sentence 827 ~ ~ ~
My servant too (a French deserter) had neither the politeness nor the address so common to his countrymen; but I knew I was _within a few hours_ of honest _Pere Pascal_; and while the hog, mule, and ass of my host continued well, I flattered myself I was not in much danger; had either of those animals been ill, I should have taken my leave; for if a suspicion had arose that an heretic was under their roof, they would have been at no loss to account for the cause or the calamity which had, or might befall them.--During my residence at this little _posada_, I saw a gaudy-dressed, little, ugly old man, and a handsome young woman, approach it; the man smiled in my face, which was the only smile I had seen in the face of a stranger for a fortnight; he told me, what he need not, that he was a Frenchman, and a noble Advocate of _Perpignan_; that his name was _Anglois_, and that his ancestors were English; that he had walked on foot, with his maid, from _Barcelona_, in order to pay his devotions to the Holy Virgin of _Montserrat_, though he had his own chaise and mules at _Barcelona_: he seemed much fatigued, so I gave him some chocolate, for he was determined, he said, to get up to the convent that night.
~ ~ ~ Sentence 828 ~ ~ ~
During this interview, he embraced me several times, professed a most affectionate regard for me and my whole family; and I felt enough for him, to desire he would fix the day of his return, that I might not be out upon my rambles, and that he would dine and spend the evening with me; in which case, I would send him back to _Barcelona_ in my _cabriolet_; all which he chearfully consented to; and having lent him my _couteau de chasse_, as a more convenient weapon on ass-back than his fine sword, we parted, reluctantly, for five days; that was the time this _noble Advocate_ had allotted for making his peace with the Holy Virgin;--I say, his peace with the Holy Virgin; for he was very desirous of leaving _his_ virgin with us, as she was an excellent cook, and a most faithful and trusty servant, both which he perceived we wanted; yet in spite of his encomiums, there was nothing in the behaviour of the girl that corresponded with such an amiable character: she had, indeed a beautiful face, but strongly marked with something, more like impudence than boldness, and more of that of a pragmatic mistress than an humble servant; and therefore we did not accept, what I was very certain, she would not have performed.