“Every one to his taste, lieutenant; but I have no doubt you have eaten a great deal of it since you came into Spain,” laughed the doctor.
“Not if I knew it!”
“You did not know it; but you have had it on your beefsteaks and mutton-chops, as well as in the various made-dishes you have partaken of. Spanish oil is not so pure and good as the Italian. Lucca oil has the best reputation. A poorer quality of oil is made here, which is used in making soap.”
“Castile soap?”
“Yes; and all kinds of oils are used for soap.”
“How do they fresco it?” asked Murray.
“Fresco it! They give it the marble look by putting coloring matter, mixed with oil, into the mass of soap before it is moulded into bars. What place is this?” said the doctor, as the train stopped.
“Almaden,” replied Sheridan, reading the sign on the station.
“I thought so, for I spent a couple of days here. Do you know what it is famous for?”