The Adventures of Gil Blas of Santillane, Alain René le Sage [most read books .txt] 📗
- Author: Alain René le Sage
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Some years before I was in office, chance threw me across a lady
of such shape and beauty as induced me to trace her home. I
learned that she was a Genoese, by name Donna Margarita Spinola,
supporting herself at Madrid on the income arising from her
beauty. It was reported that Don Francisco de Val�asar, an
officer about the court, a rich man, an old man, and a married
man, laid out his money very freely on this hazardous
speculation. These rumours ought to have deterred me; but they
only whetted my desires to share with Val�asar. To gain my end, I
had recourse to a female broker of tenderness, who adjusted the
terms of a private interview with the Genoese; and the price
current being settled, the traffic was frequently repeated; it
was an open market for my rival and me, or possibly for many
other bidders.
Let that be as it may, a choice boy was in the fulness of time
produced to the club, and the mother complimented every member
individually in private with the credit: but we were each of us
too modest to acknowledge a bantling which had so probable a
claim upon a better father; so that the Genoese was compelled to
maintain him on the profits of her profession: this she did for
eighteen years, and dying at the end of that period, has left her
son without a farthing, and what is worse, without an idea or an
accomplishment.
Such, continued his lordship, is the confidence I meant to repose
in you, and I shall now lay open the great design I have formed,
to draw this unfortunate child from his obscurity, reverse the
colour of his fate, raise him to the highest honours, and
acknowledge him as my son.
At so extravagant a project it was impossible not to be open-mouthed. What, sir, exclaimed I, can your excellency have adopted
so strange a resolution! Excuse my freedom; but my zeal cannot
restrain itself. You will be of my mind, replied he with
eagerness, when I shall have explained to you my motives. I have
no mind that my estates should descend in the collateral line.
You will tell me, that I am not so old as to despair of having
children by Madame d’Olivarez. But every one is best judge of his
own condition: know therefore that there is not a receipt in the
whole extent of chemistry which I have not tried, but without
effect, to appear once again in the character of a father.
Wherefore, since fortune, stepping in to cover the defects of
nature, presents me with a child whose parent after all I may
actually be, he is mine by adoption; that is a settled point.
When I found the minister determined, I no longer argued against
his resolution, as knowing him to be a man who would rather do a
foolish act of his own, than adopt a wise suggestion of another.
It only remains now, added he, to educate Don Henry Philip de
Guzman; for by that name I intend him to be known in the world,
till the time arrives when he may aspire to higher dignities.
You, my dear Santillane, I have chosen to superintend his
conduct: I have full confidence in your talents and friendship,
to regulate his household, direct his studies, and make him an
accomplished gentleman. I would willingly have declined the
office, as never having exercised the craft of a pedagogue, which
required much more genius and solidity than mine; but he shut my
mouth by saying it was his absolute determination that I should
be tutor to this adopted son, whom he designed for the first
offices of the monarchy. As a bribe for my compliance, his
lordship increased my little income with a pension of a thousand
crowns on the commandery of Mambra.
CH. V. — The son of the Genoese is acknowledged by a legal
instrument, and named Don Henry Philip de Guzman. Santillane
establishes his household, and arranges the course of his
studies.
THE act of adoption was soon legalized with the king’s consent
and good pleasure. Don Henry Philip de Guzman, as this descendant
from a committee of fathers was named, became acknowledged
successor to the earldom of Olivarez and the duchy of San Lucar.
The minister, to give the act all possible publicity,
communicated it through Carnero to the ambassadors and grandees
of Spain, who were somewhat startled. The jokers of Madrid were
not insensible to the ridicule, and the satirical poets made
their harvest of so fine a subject for their pen.
I asked my lord duke where my pupil was. Here in town, answered
he, with an aunt from whom I shall remove him as soon as you have
got a house ready. This I did immediately, and furnished it
magnificently. When my establishment was complete in servants and
officers, his excellency sent for this equivocal production, this
spurious offset from the renowned stock of the Guzmans. The lad
was tall and personable. Don Henry, said his lordship, pointing
to me, this gentleman is to be your tutor and introduce you into
the world; he has my entire confidence, and an unlimited
authority over you. After much good advice, and many compliments
to me, the minister retired, and I took Don Henry home.
As soon as we got thither, I introduced him to his household, and
explained the nature of each individual’s employment. He did not
seem at all disconcerted at the change of circumstances, but
received the obeisances of his dependants as if he had been a
lord by nature, and not by chance. He was not without mother-wit,
but ignorant in a deplorable degree; he could scarcely read and
write. I gave him masters for the Latin grammar, geography,
history, and fencing. A dancing-master of course was not
forgotten; but in an affair of the first consequence, selection
was difficult, for there were more eminent professors of that art
in Madrid than of all the languages and sciences put together.
While I was pondering on this difficulty, a man gaudily dressed
came into the court-yard and inquired for me. I went down,
supposing him to be at least a knight of some military or
privileged order. Signor de Santillane, said he, with a profusion
of bows which anticipated his line in life, I am come to offer
you my services as Don Henry’s governor. My name is Martin
Ligero, and I have, thank heaven, some reputation in the world. I
have no occasion to canvass for scholars; that is all very well
for petty dancing-masters! My custom is to wait till I am sent
for; but being a sort of appendage to the house of Guzman, and
having taught its various branches for a long period, I thought
it a point of respect to wait on you first. I perceive, answered
I, that you are just the man we want What are your terms? Four
double pistoles a month, answered he, and I give but two lessons
a week. Four doubloons a month! cried I, that is an exorbitant
price. Exorbitant! rejoined he with astonishment; why, it is not
more than eight times as much as you would give to a mathematical
master or a Greek professor.
There was no resisting so ludicrous a comparison of merit; I
laughed out right, and asked Signor Ligero whether he really
thought his talents worth more than those of the first
proficients in learning and science. Most assuredly, said he; at
least, if you measure our pretensions by their respective
utility. What sort of machines may those be which are fashioned
under their hands? Jointless puppets, unlicked cubs, open-mouthed
and impenetrable shell-fish; but our lessons supple and render
pliant the intractable stiffness of their component parts, and
bring them insensibly into shape: in short, we communicate to
them a graceful motion, a polite address, the carriage of good
company, and the outward marks of elevated rank.
I could not but give way to such cogent arguments in favour of
the dancing-master’s occupation, and engaged him about Dun
Henry’s person without haggling as to terms, since those
specified were only at the rate established by the leading
professors of the art.
CH. VI. — Scipio’s return from New Spain. Gil Blas places him
about Don Henry’s person. That young nobleman’s course of study.
His career of honour, and his father’s matrimonial speculation on
his behalf. A patent of nobility conferred on Gil Blas against
his will.
I HAD not yet half arranged Don Henry’s household, when Scipio
returned from Mexico. He brought with him three thousand ducats
in cash, and merchandise to double the amount. I wish you joy,
said I; the foundation of your fortune is laid; and if you prefer
a snug berth at Madrid to the risk of going back, you have only
to tell me so. There is no question about that, said the son of
Coselina: a genteel situation at home is far preferable to a
second voyage.
After relating the birth and adventures of the little adopted
Guzman, and my own appointment as tutor, I offered him the
situation of upper servant to this babe of chance: Scipio, who
could have devised nothing better for himself, readily accepted
the office, and within the small space of three or four days got
the length of his new master’s foot.
I had taken it for granted that that the verb-grinders and
concord-manufacturers to whom I had given the plant of this
Genoese bastard would lose stock and block, under the idea that
he was of an intractable and profitless age; but my forebodings
were completely reversed. He not only comprehended, but easily
retained the lessons of his masters, and they were very well
satisfied with him. I was in an enormous hurry to greet the ears
of my lord duke with this intelligence, and he received, it with
abundant joy. Santillane, exclaimed he with delight, you give me
new life by the assurance of Don Henry’s capacity and
application: it runs in the blood of the Guzmans; and I am the
more confirmed in his being unquestionably my own, because I am
just as fond of him as if Madame d’ Olivarez herself had lain in
of the brat in due form under this very roof. The voice of
nature, you perceive, will make itself heard. I thought it
unnecessary to give his lordship any opinion on that subject; but
with a delicate deference to his credulity, left him to enjoy his
fancied paternity in peace, whether well or ill founded.
Though all the Guzmans held this clod of newly turned up nobility
in utter scorn, they were politic enough to smooth over the
corrugations of their contempt; nay, some of them even affected
to languish for his good opinion: the ambassadors and principal
nobility then at Madrid waited on him, with all the ceremony
appertaining to the rank of a legitimate son. The minister,
intoxicated with the fumes of incense offered to his idol, began
to build a temple worthy of the worship. The cross of Alcantara
was the foundation, with a commandery of ten thousand crowns. The
next step was to a high office in the royal household, and the
completion of the whole was matrimony. Wishing to connect him
with a family of the first rank, he picked out Donna Johanna de
Velasco, daughter to the Duke of Castile, and had influence
enough to accomplish the alliance, though against the will of the
duke and of all his kindred.
Some days before the nuptial ceremony, his lordship put some
papers into my hand, saying: Here, Gil Blas, is a patent of
nobility which I have procured as the reward of your services. My
lord, answered I, in much astonishment, your excellency
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