The Adventures of Gil Blas of Santillane, Alain René le Sage [most read books .txt] 📗
- Author: Alain René le Sage
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In the mean time, at the howl I had set up two or three of the
robbers waked suddenly; and not knowing but the holy brotherhood
might be falling upon them, they got up and called their
comrades. Without the loss of a moment all were on the alert.
Swords and carabines were put in requisition, and the whole posse
advanced forward almost in a state of nature to the place where I
was parleying with Domingo. But as soon as they learned the cause
of the uproar, their alarm resolved itself into a peal of
laughter. How now, Gil Blas, said the apostate son of the church,
you have not been a good six hours with us, and are you tired of
our company already? You must have a great objection to
retirement. Why, what would you do if you were a Carthusian
friar? Get along with you, and go to bed. This time you shall get
off with Domingo’s discipline; but if you are ever caught in a
second attempt of the same kind, by Saint Bartholomew! we will
flay you alive. With this hint he retired, and the rest of the
party went back to their rooms. The old negro, taking credit to
himself for his vigilance, returned to his stable; and I found my
way back to my charnelhouse, where I passed the remainder of the
night in weeping and wailing.
CH. VII. — Gil Blas, not being able to do what he likes, does
what he can.
FOR the first few days I thought I should have given up the ghost
for very spite and vexation. The lingering life I led was nearly
akin to death itself; but in the end my good genius whispered me
to play the hypocrite, I aimed at looking a little more cheerful;
began to laugh and sing, though it was some times on the wrong
side of my mouth; in a word, I put so good a face on the matter,
that Leonarda and Domingo were completely taken in. They thought
the bird was reconciled to his cage. The robbers entertained the
same notion. I looked as brisk as the beverage I poured out, and
put in my oar whenever I thought I could say a good thing. My
freedom, far from offending, was taken in good part. Gil Blas,
quoth the captain one evening, while I was playing the buffoon,
you have done well, my friend, to banish melancholy. I am
delighted with your wit and humour. Some people wear a mask at
first acquaintance; I had no notion what a jovial fellow you
were.
My praises now seemed to run from mouth to mouth. They were all
so partial to me, that, not to miss my opportunity; — Gentlemen,
quoth I, allow me to tell you a piece of my mind. Since I have
been your guest, a new light breaks in upon me. I have bid adieu
to vulgar prejudices, and caught a ray at the fountain of your
illumination. I feel that I was born to be your knight companion.
I languish to make one among you, and will stand my chance of a
halter with the best. All the company cried Hear! — I was
considered as a promising member of the senate. It was then
determined unanimously to give me a trial in some inferior
department; afterwards to bespeak me a good desperate encounter
in which I might show my prowess; and if I answered expectation
to give me a high and responsible employment in the commonwealth.
It was necessary therefore to go on exhibiting a copy of my
countenance, and doing my best in my office of cup-bearer. I was
impatient beyond measure; for I only aspired after the honours of
the sitting, to obtain the liberty of going abroad with the rest;
and I was in hopes that by running the risk of getting my neck
into one noose I might get it out of another. This was my only
chance. The time nevertheless seemed long to wait, and I kept my
eye on Domingo, with the hope of outwitting him: but the thing
was not feasible; he was always on the watch. Orpheus as leader
of the band, with a complete orchestra of performers as good as
himself, could not have soothed the savage breast of this
Cerberus. The truth is, by the by, that for fear of exciting his
suspicion, I did not set my wits against him so much as I might
have done. He was on the look-out, and I was obliged to play the
prude, or my virtue might have come into disgrace. I therefore
stopped proceedings till the time of my probation should expire,
to which I looked forward with impatience, just as if I was
waiting for a place under government.
Heaven be praised, in about six months I gained my end. The
commandant Rolando addressing his regiment, said: Comrades, we
must stand upon honour with Gil Blas. I have no bad opinion of
our young candidate; we shall make something of him. If you will
take my advice, let him go and reap his first harvest with us to-morrow on the king’s highway. We will lead him on in the path of
honour. The robbers applauded the sentiments of the captain with
a thunder of acclamation; and to show me how much I was
considered as one of the gang, from that moment they dispensed
with my attendance at the side board. Dame Leonarda was
reinstated in the office from which she had been discharged to
make room for me. They made me change my dress, which consisted
in a plain short cassock a good deal the worse for wear, and
tricked me out in the spoils of a gentleman lately robbed. After
this inauguration, I made my arrangements for my first campaign.
CH. VIII. — Gil Blas goes out with the gang, and performs an
exploit on the highway.
IT was past midnight in the month of September, when I issued
from the subterraneous abode as one of the fraternity. I was
armed, like them, with a carabine, two pistols, a sword, and a
bayonet, and was mounted on a very good horse, the property of
the gentleman in whose costume I appeared. I had lived so long
like a mole under-ground, that the daybreak could not fail of
dazzling me: but my eyes got reconciled to it by degrees.
We passed close by Pontferrada, and were determined to lie in
ambush behind a small wood skirting the road to Leon. There we
were waiting for whatever fortune might please to throw in our
way, when we espied a Dominican friar, mounted, contrary to the
rubric of those pious fathers, on a shabby mule. God be praised,
exclaimed the captain with a sneer, this is a noble beginning for
Gil Blas. Let him go and trounce that monk: we will bear witness
to his qualifications. The connoisseurs were all of opinion that
this commission suited my talents to a hair, and exhorted me to
do my best Gentlemen, quoth I, you shall have no reason to
complain. I will strip this holy father to his birthday suit,
and give you complete right and title to his mule. No, no, said
Rolando, the beast would not be worth its fodder: only bring us
our reverend pastor’s purse; that is all we require. Hereupon I
issued from the wood and pushed up to the man of God, doing
penance all the time in my own breast for the sin I was
committing. I could have liked to have turned my back upon my
fellows at that moment; but most of them had the advantage of
better horses than mine: had they seen me making off they would
have been at my heels, and would soon have caught me, or perhaps
would have fired a volley, for which I was not sufficiently case-hardened. I could not therefore venture on so perilous an
alternative; so that claiming acquaintance with the reverend
father, I asked to look at his purse, and just put out the end of
a pistol. He stopped short to gaze upon me; and, without seeming
much frightened, said, My child, you are very young; this is an
early apprenticeship to a bad trade. Father, replied I, bad as it
is, I wish I had begun it sooner. What! my son, rejoined the good
friar, who did not understand the real meaning of what I said,
how say you? What blindness! give me leave to place before your
eyes the unhappy condition. Come, come, father! interrupted I,
with impatience, a truce to your morality, if you please. My
business on the high road is not to hear sermons. Money makes my
mare to go. Money said he, with a look of surprise; you have a
poor opinion of Spanish charity, if you think that people of my
stamp have any occasion for such trash upon their travels. Let me
undeceive you. We are made welcome wherever we go, and pay for
our board and lodgings by our prayers. In short, we carry no cash
with us on the road; but draw drafts upon Providence. That is all
very well, replied I; yet for fear your drafts should be
dishonoured, you take care to keep about you a little supply for
present need. But come, father, let us make an end: my comrades
in the wood are in a hurry; so your money or your life. At these
words, which I pronounced with a determined air, the friar began
to think the business grew serious. Since needs must, said he,
there is wherewithal to satisfy your craving. A word and a blow
is the only rhetoric with you gentlemen. As he said this, be drew
a large leathern purse from under his gown, and threw it on the
ground. I then told him he might make the best of his way: and he
did not wait for a second bidding, but stuck his heels into the
mule, which, giving the lie to my opinion, for I thought it on a
par with my uncle’s, set off at a good round pace. While he was
riding for his life, I dismounted. The purse was none of the
lightest. I mounted again, and got back to the wood, where those
nice. observers were waiting with impatience to congratulate me
on my success. I could hardly get my foot out of the stirrup, so
eager were they to shake hands with me. Courage, Gil Blas, said
Rolando; you have done wonders. I have had my eyes on you during
your whole performance, and have watched your countenance. I have
no hesitation in predicting that you will become in time a very
accomplished highwayman. The lieutenant and the rest chimed in
with the prophecy, and assured me that I could not fail of
fulfilling it hereafter. I thanked them for the elevated idea
they had formed of my talents, and promised to do all in my power
not to discredit their penetration.
After they had lavished praises, the effect rather of their
candour than of my merit, they took it into their heads to
examine the booty I had brought under my convoy. Let us see, said
they, let us see how a friar’s purse is lined. It should be fat
and flourishing, continued one of them, for these good fathers do
not mortify the flesh when they travel. The captain untied the
purse, opened it, and took out two or three handfuls of little
copper coins, an Agnus-Dei here and there, and some scapularies.
At sight of so novel a prize, all the privates burst into an
immoderate fit of laughter. God be praised! cried the lieutenant,
we are very much obliged to Gil Blas: his first attack has
produced a supply, very seasonable to our
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