It is impossible to express how, in all likelihood, he railed and swore at me; but let us leave him there, and return to my journey. I was mounted on a dappled ass of La Mancha, and wished with all my heart that I might meet nobody; when on a sudden I discovered at a distance a gentleman going a-pace, with his cloak hanging on his shoulders, his sword by his side, close breeches, and boots on, altogether, to outward appearance, genteel enough, with a clean starched band, and his hat on one side. I conceived he was some man of quality that was walking, and had left his coach behind him; and accordingly, when I came up, I saluted him. He looked at me, and said, "It is very likely, good Sir, that you travel more easy on that ass than I do with all my equipage." Imagining he had meant his coach and servants he left behind, I answered, "In troth, Sir, I reckon it more easy travelling than in a coach, for though there is no dispute that you go very easily in that you have left behind you, yet the jolting of it is troublesome." "What coach behind?" replied he, much disturbed, and turning short to look about him, the sudden motion made his breeches drop down, for it broke the one point he had to hold them up; and though he saw me ready to burst with laughing, he asked to borrow one of me. Perceiving he had no more shirt than would come within the waistband of his breeches, and scarce reach to acquaint his breech he had any, I replied, "As I hope for mercy, Sir, you had best wait till your servants come up, for I cannot possibly assist you, having but one single point to hold up my own breeches." "If you are in jest, Sir," quoth he, holding his breeches in his hands, "let it pass, for I do not understand what you mean by servants." With this he went on, and was so plain in letting me know he was poor, that before we had gone half a league together, he owned he should never be able to get to Madrid, unless I would let him ride upon my ass awhile, he was so tired with walking with his breeches in his hands, which moved me to compassion, and I alighted. He was so encumbered with his breeches, that I was fain to help him up, and was much surprised at what I discovered by my feeling; for behind, as far as was covered with the cloak, the hinder parts had no other fence against the eyes and the air. He, being sensible of the discovery I had made, very discreetly prevented what reflection I might make by saying, "All is not gold that glitters, Sir Licentiate," giving me that title on account of my long scholar's robe; "no doubt but when you saw my fine starched band, and the show I made, you fancied I was the Lord knows who.[17] Little do you think how many fine outsides are as bare within as what you felt." I assured him upon my word that I had conceited much different matters from what I found. "Why then, Sir," replied he, "let me tell you, all you have seen as yet is nothing, for everything about me is remarkable, and no part of me is truly clad.