After passing from its Genoese owners, it was inhabited by certain Abades, rich members of the Cathedral Staff, who left behind them their name, but no very popular odour of sanctity,
| "En la calle de los Abades, |
| Todos han Tíos, y ningunos Padres."[28] |
So runs the jingle Ford quotes, with manifest glee, adding as a sequel to bring the matter home to the right offenders,
| "Los Canonigos, Madre, no tienen hijos; |
| Los que tienen en casa, son sobrinicos."[29] |
Possibly it may have been some of these very "sobrinicos" who hindered my sketching by many small practical "chistes," for as the Patio served as a play-ground to a tumultuous little boys' school, I found it by no means conducive to that state of mind which facilitates elaborate sketching. I fear also that such an occupation of its graceful galleries may not prove conducive to the preservation of the noses, and possibly even of the heads, of the "Caballeros de mucha consideracion," who fill the medallions of the spandrels of the principal arches of the Patio.
