第22章

The College - The Rector - Shibboleth - National Prejudices -Youthful Sports - Jews of Lisbon - Bad Faith -Crime and Superstition - Strange Proposal.

One afternoon Antonio said to me, "It has struck me, Senhor, that your worship would like to see the college of the English -." "By all means," I replied, "pray conduct me thither." So he led me through various streets until we stopped before the gate of a large building in one of the most elevated situations in Lisbon; upon our ringing, a kind of porter presently made his appearance, and demanded our business.Antonio explained it to him.He hesitated for a moment; but presently, bidding us enter, conducted us to a large gloomy-looking stone hall, where, begging us to be seated, he left us.We were soon joined by a venerable personage, seemingly about seventy, in a kind of flowing robe or surplice, with a collegiate cap upon his head.

Notwithstanding his age there was a ruddy tinge upon his features, which were perfectly English.Coming slowly up he addressed me in the English tongue, requesting to know how he could serve me.I informed him that I was an English traveller, and should be happy to be permitted to inspect the college, provided it were customary to show it to strangers.

He informed me that there could be no objection to accede to my request, but that I came at rather an unfortunate moment, it being the hour of refection.I apologised, and was preparing to retire, but he begged me to remain, as, in a few minutes, the refection would be over, when the principals of the college would do themselves the pleasure of waiting on me.

We sat down on the stone bench, when he commenced surveying me attentively for some time, and then cast his eyes on Antonio."Whom have we here?" said he to the latter;"surely your features are not unknown to me." "Probably not, your reverence," replied Antonio, getting up and bowing most profoundly."I lived in the family of the Countess -, at Cintra, when your venerability was her spiritual guide.""True, true," said the old gentleman, sighing, "I remember you now.Ah, Antonio, things are strangely changed since then.Anew government - a new system - a new religion, I may say."Then looking again at me, he demanded whither I was journeying?

"I am going to Spain," said I, "and have stopped at Lisbon by the way." "Spain, Spain!" said the old man; "surely you have chosen a strange time to visit Spain; there is much bloodshedding in Spain at present, and violent wars and tumults." "I consider the cause of Don Carlos as already crushed," I replied; "he has lost the only general capable of leading his armies to Madrid.Zumalacarregui, his Cid, has fallen." "Do not flatter yourself; I beg your pardon, but do not think, young man, that the Lord will permit the powers of darkness to triumph so easily; the cause of Don Carlos is not lost; its success did not depend on the life of a frail worm like him whom you have mentioned." We continued in discourse some little time, when he arose, saying that by this time he believed the refection was concluded.

He had scarcely left me five minutes when three individuals entered the stone hall, and advanced slowly towards me; - the principals of the college, said I to myself! and so indeed they were.The first of these gentlemen, and to whom the other two appeared to pay considerable deference, was a thin spare person, somewhat above the middle height; his complexion was very pale, his features emaciated but fine, his eyes dark and sparkling; he might be about fifty - the other two were men in the prime of life.One was of rather low stature; his features were dark, and wore that pinched and mortified expression so frequently to be observed in the countenance of the English -: the other was a bluff, ruddy, and rather good-looking young man; all three were dressed alike in the usual college cap and silk gown.Coming up, the eldest of the three took me by the hand and thus addressed me in clear silvery tones:-"Welcome, Sir, to our poor house; we are always happy to see in it a countryman from our beloved native land; it will afford us extreme satisfaction to show you over it; it is true that satisfaction is considerably diminished by the reflection that it possesses nothing worthy of the attention of a traveller; there is nothing curious pertaining to it save perhaps its economy, and that as we walk about we will explain to you.Permit us, first of all, to introduce ourselves to you; I am rector of this poor English house of refuge; this gentleman is our professor of humanity, and this (pointing to the ruddy personage) is our professor of polite learning, Hebrew, and Syriac."MYSELF.- I humbly salute you all; excuse me if I inquire who was the venerable gentleman who put himself to the inconvenience of staying with me whilst I was awaiting your leisure.

RECTOR.- O! a most admirable personage, our almoner, our chaplain; he came into this country before any of us were born, and here he has continued ever since.Now let us ascend that we may show you our poor house: but how is this, my dear Sir, how is it that I see you standing uncovered in our cold damp hall?

MYSELF.- I can easily explain that to you; it is a custom which has become quite natural to me.I am just arrived from Russia, where I have spent some years.A Russian invariably takes off his hat whenever he enters beneath a roof, whether it pertain to hut, shop, or palace.To omit doing so would be considered as a mark of brutality and barbarism, and for the following reason: in every apartment of a Russian house there is a small picture of the Virgin stuck up in a corner, just below the ceiling - the hat is taken off out of respect to her.