Théophile Gautier1853Théophile Gautier meets customs officiers at Vittoria in Spain
Book page
Google BooksThéophile Gautier
Wanderings in Spain (London: Ingram, Cooke, and Co., 1853), p.22.
The sun was setting when we entered Vittoria; after threading all sorts of streets, of but middling architectural style and very bad taste, the coach stopped at the
parador vejo, where our luggage was scrupulously examined. Our Daguerreotype especially alarmed the worthy custom-house officers a good deal; they approached it with the greatest precautions, like people who are afraid of being blown up; I think they imagined it to be an electrifying machine, and I took care not to undeceive them.
LL/36089
