“By no means, _Don Jorge_; I do not like horses. It is not the practice of the Church to ride on horseback. We prefer mules; they are the quieter animals. I fear horses, they kick so violently.” “The kick of a horse is death,” said I, “if it touches a vital part. I am not, however, of your lordship’s opinion with respect to mules: a good _ginete_ may retain his seat on a horse however vicious, but a mule—_vaya_! when a false mule _tira por detras_, {178a} I do not believe that the Father of the Church himself could keep the saddle a moment, however sharp his bit.” As I was going away, I said, “And with respect to the Gospel, your lordship, what am I to understand?” “_No sé_,” {178b} said the archbishop, again bending his head towards the right shoulder, whilst his features resumed their former vacant expression. And thus terminated my interview with the Archbishop of Toledo. “It appears to me,” said I to Maria Diaz, on returning home; “it appears to me, _Marequita mia_, that if the Gospel in Spain is to wait for toleration until these liberal bishops and archbishops come forward boldly in its behalf, it will have to tarry a considerable time.” “I am much of your worship’s opinion,” answered Maria; “a fine thing, truly, it would be to wait till they exerted themselves in its behalf. _Ca_! {179a} the idea makes me smile. Was your worship ever innocent enough to suppose that they cared one tittle about the Gospel or its cause? _Vaya_! they are true priests, and had only self-interest in view in their advances to you. The Holy Father disowns them, and they would now fain, by awaking his fears and jealousy, bring him to some terms; but let him once acknowledge them, and see whether they would admit you to their palaces or hold any intercourse with you! ‘Forth with the fellow!’ they would say; ‘_vaya_! is he not a Lutheran? Is he not an enemy to the Church? _Á la horca_, _á la horca_!’ {179b} I know this family better than you do, _Don Jorge_.” “It is useless tarrying,” said I; “nothing, however, can be done in Madrid. I cannot sell the work at the _despacho_, and I have just received intelligence that all the copies exposed for sale in the libraries in the different parts of Spain which I have visited have been sequestrated by order of the government. My resolution is taken: I shall mount my horses, which are neighing in the stable, and betake myself to the villages and plains of dusty Spain. _Al campo_, _al campo_: {180a} ‘Ride forth, because of the word of righteousness, and thy right hand shall show thee terrible things. {180b} I will ride forth, Maria.”