Note 164 — Chapter XII

With perfect confidence—and it is astonishing and highly flattering to our national character what confidence all Spaniards place in us on a very slight acquaintance. A remarkable instance of this occurred to my friend Budgen (whose name I have once before taken the liberty of mentioning in these pages), when returning home alone one afternoon, from shooting in the Almoraima forest. A well dressed and well mounted Spaniard, who had trotted past and eyed him very hard several times, addressing some common-place observation to him on each occasion, at length, having ascertained to his satisfaction that, in spite of a half Spanish costume, he was an Englishman, reined his horse up alongside, and said he had a particular favour to ask. “It is granted, if in my power,” was the reply. “I have here, then,” added the Spaniard, “a number of doubloons,” mentioning a very considerable sum, “which I want to smuggle into La Plaza, for the purchase of various goods. Your person will not be examined by the custom-house officers at the Lines, whereas mine is sure to be. Will you, therefore, oblige me by carrying them in for me, and lodging them at the house of —— and Co.?” “Did you ever see me before,” demanded my astonished friend, “that you ask me to do this?” “No,” replied the other; “but I see you are an Englishman.” Thanking him for the compliment paid to the national character by this proof of trust, our countryman added, that he must nevertheless decline doing what was asked of him, as the confidence shown by the Spanish government in suffering Englishmen to pass into Gibraltar without examination would be badly returned by such an act. The Spaniard (fully appreciating the high sense of honour that dictated this answer) expressed a hope that he had not given offence, wished him good day, and rode forward.