and there being a much brighter light, it appeared still more beautiful than on the previous evening. In the room at the time there were two women and the lad who had brought my china in the morning. Having again questioned her as to the price, &c., I told the good woman who appeared to take the lead, that I did not want the china (which was an innocent fib), that it was far beyond my means; but, said I, in an off-hand manner, "as you appear most anxious to part with it, I will tell you what I will doI will give you forty sovereigns, or fifty napoleons in gold;" gold being then somewhat scarce at Madrid. Now my offer was received with great good humour, but neither accepted nor refused -in fact, made half in joke, half in earnest, more than £200 having been demanded. I then began to look at some old swords which lay dusty in a corner of the apartment; when all of a sudden the door flew open, and in rushed two of the most disagreeable-looking vagabonds I ever beheld. Drawing, as if by impulse, the sword I held in my hand from the scabbard,

the Spanish proverb occurred to me,-"No me sagues sin razon; no me envaines sino honor;" which simply means, Do not draw me without cause, or sheath me without honour; and dropping the point, I stood with my back to the corner from whence I had taken it, awaiting the next move-not, however, very calmly, for the day was intensely hot, and it occurred to me that I had got into a den of thieves. Moreover, an angry Spaniard is not always particular whether he sticks you in the back or the front. But what did it all mean? The two men appeared to be terribly excited, and the angry discussion in patois which took place was far beyond my comprehension, though I and the box of china were evidently the subjects of discussion. My position, I must admit, was not the pleasantest in life. At last, a temporary pause taking place, I demanded the cause of this inconceivable outbreak. "We were behind the door," said one man, "and we heard you offer fifty sovereigns for the china." "You are in error," said I; "I offered fifty napoleons. Nevertheless,

if you will bring it to my hotel, I will give you fifty sovereigns," glad to escape by any means from my disagreeable position; "I do not carry so much gold in my pocket."

On this another boisterous conversation took place, the box and its contents being eventually hoisted on one of the men's shoulders; and I hailed the fact as the advent of my release and possession of the china. But, alas, nothing of the kind. I was detained another half-houra prisoner in fact. at last in the person of a well-dressed gentleman, who had doubtless, been sent for, and who evidently had a perfect knowledge of my gaolers, and also of the china I was desirous to purchase. Having at length gained the street, I addressed my companion, courteously demanding whom I had the honour to thank for my release, what was his connection with the parties by whom I had been insulted-in fact, I requested to be enlightened as to the whole affair.

Happily my release came

Thus spoke the mighty hidalgo, having first informed me he was a Spanish nobleman :

"You ought not to trust yourself in such places."

"Trust myself in such places!" I replied; "a bric-à-brac shop in the principal street and thoroughfare of Madrid ?”

"You are not in England, signor," he replied.

"There is no question as to that," I said; "meanwhile I thank you for coming to my aid, whether intentionally or by chance. I am ignorant of your knowledge of these people, and equally so of your connection in reference to the china they so eagerly desire to sell. But in case you have any interest in the matter, you will place me under further obligations by telling them most distinctly, that if they bring the china in question to my hotel by twelve o'clock to-morrow, I will give them £40; if the clock strikes the quarter-past, and no one appears, I shall instantly lay the whole matter before the English minister, demanding compensation for being forcibly detained, and the punishment of its authors." And taking off my hat, I wished his excellency good morning.

As the hour of twelve sounded throughout the

city, on the following day, the box and its contents, in perfect preservation, were placed in my room. I paid a thousand francs, and on the same night it formed a portion of my belongings en route to Paris. With a cup in my pocket I visited Sèvres, where I ascertained that this beautiful specimen of modern Sèvres had been sent by King Louis Philippe as a present to her most Catholic Majesty of Spain on her marriage. Of course I have here only given an outline of the facts as they occurred; and having no desire to injure or question the honesty of others, I will endeavour to forget all the curious details of the affair since come to my knowledge, save that if I became the possessor of a beautiful Sèvres déjeûner, I did so by fair means and payment, and at considerable personal discomfort.

There is now very little to be done by the bric-à-brac hunter in Madrid; and yet there surely must be some magnificent specimens of Bueno Retiro and other specimens of Spanish china scattered about the principal towns and cities of Spain in private houses, though it has never

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