No sooner had he alighted at the posada, than he wrote a note, and
sent it to the governor of the place, saying, that having just come
back from Andalusia, whither he had been sent on an important mission
by Sir Rowland Hill, and not doubting that the Spanish dignitary would
be glad of news from that province, he would wait on him at breakfast
next morning. This done, and learning that many of the Spanish
officers were to be found at another posada, he hastened thither, soon
meeting acquaintances--and making more--among them. He knew well how
to approach the Spaniard, mingling the utmost consideration with his
frank address, and taking pains to make himself agreeable, even to
that puppy, Don Alonso Melendez, whom he found among them. Many of
them were at cards, and the dice were not idle. L'Isle soon found a
place among the gamesters, and took care to lose a few pieces to more
than one of his new friends; a thing easily done, they being in high
practice, and he little skilled in these arts. Having thus made
himself one of them, he, like a true Englishman, set to drinking,
contrived to get about him some of the graver and less busy of the
gentlemen present, and, while discussing with them the best wine the
house afforded, he adroitly turned the conversation to the topics on
which he sought information.
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