The first village at which I made an attempt was Cobeña, about three leagues from Madrid. I was dressed in the fashion of the peasants in the neighbourhood of Segovia, in Old Castile, namely, I had on my head a species of leather helmet or _montera_, with a jacket and trousers of the same material. I had the appearance of a person between sixty and seventy years of age, and drove before me a _borrico_ with a sack of Testaments lying across its back. On nearing the village, I met a genteel-looking young woman leading a little boy by the hand. As I was about to pass her, with the customary salutation of _vaya usted con Dios_, she stopped, and, after looking at me for a moment, she said, “Uncle, {221a} what is that you have got on your _borrico_? Is it soap?” “Yes,” I replied; “it is soap to wash souls clean.” She demanded what I meant; whereupon I told her that I carried cheap and godly books for sale. On her requesting to see one, I produced a copy from my pocket and handed it to her. She instantly commenced reading with a loud voice, and continued so for at least ten minutes, occasionally exclaiming, “_Que lectura tan bonita_, _que lectura tan linda_!” {221b} At last, on my informing her that I was in a hurry, and could not wait any longer, she said, “True, true,” and asked me the price of the book; I told her “But three _reals_,” whereupon she said, that though what I asked was very little, it was more than she could afford to give, as there was little or no money in those parts. I said I was sorry for it, but that I could not dispose of the books for less than I had demanded, and accordingly, resuming it, wished her farewell, and left her. I had not, however, proceeded thirty yards, when the boy came running behind me, shouting, out of breath, “Stop, uncle, the book, the book!” Upon overtaking me, he delivered the three _reals_ in copper, and seizing the Testament, ran back to her, who I suppose was his sister, flourishing the book over his head with great glee.