The Adventures of Gil Blas of Santillane, Alain René le Sage [most read books .txt] 📗
- Author: Alain René le Sage
- Performer: -
Book online «The Adventures of Gil Blas of Santillane, Alain René le Sage [most read books .txt] 📗». Author Alain René le Sage
I made up my mind to take on myself the appearance of a
gentleman. Waiting for the day with the greatest impatience, its
first dawn no sooner greeted my eyes, than I got up. I made such
an uproar in the inn, as to wake the most inveterate sleeper, and
called the servants out of bed, who returned my salute with a
volley of curses. But they found themselves under a necessity of
stirring, and I let them have no rest till they had sent for a
broker. The gentleman soon made his appearance, followed by two
lads, each lugging in a great bundle of green cloth. He accosted
me very civilly, to the following effect: Honoured sir, you are a
happy man to have been recommended to me rather than any one
else. I do not mean to give my brethren an ill word: God forbid I
should offer the slightest injury to their reputation! They have
none to spare. But, between ourselves, there is not one of them
that has any bowels; they are more extortionate than the
Israelites. There is not a broker but myself that has any moral
sense. I keep within the bounds of a reasonable profit. I am
satisfied with a pound in the penny; — no, no! — that is
wrong: — with a penny in the pound. Thanks to heaven, I get
forward fair and softly in the world.
The broker, after this preface, which I, like a fool, took for
chapter and verse, told his journeymen to undo their bundles.
They showed me suits of every colour in the rainbow, and exposed
to sale a great choice of plain cloths. These I threw aside with
contempt, as thinking them too undrest; but they made me try on
one which fitted me as well as if I had been measured for it, and
just hit my fancy, though it was a little the worse for wear. It
was a doublet with slashed sleeves, with breeches and a cloak,
the whole of blue velvet with a gold embroidery. I felt a little
hankering after this particular article, and attempted to beat
down the price. The broker, who saw my inclination, told me I had
a very correct taste. By all that is sacred! exclaimed he, it is
plain you are no younker. Take this with you! That dress was made
for one of the first nobility in the kingdom, and has not been on
his back three times. Look at the velvet; feel it: nothing can be
richer or of a better colour; and for the embroidery, come now!
tell truth: did you ever see better workmanship? What is the
price of it? said I. Only sixty ducats, replied he. I have
refused the money, or else I am a liar. The alternative could not
fail in one proposition or the other. I bid five and forty: two
or three and twenty would have been nearer the mark. My worthy
master, said the broker coolly, I never ask too much. I have but
one price. But here, added he, holding up the suits I had thrown
aside; take these: I can afford to sell them a better bargain.
All this only inflamed my eagerness to buy what I was cheapening;
and as I had no idea that he would have made any abatement, I
paid him down sixty ducats. When he saw how easily a fool and his
money were parted, I verily believe that in spite of the moral
sense, he heartily repented not having taken a hint from the
extortionate Israelite. But reconciling himself as well as he
could to the small profit, to which he professed to confine
himself, of a pound upon a penny, he retreated with his
journeymen. I was not suffered to forget that they must have
something for their trouble.
I had now a cloak, a doublet, and a very decent pair of breeches.
The rest of my wardrobe was to be thought of: and this took up
the whole morning. I bought some linen, a hat, silk stockings,
shoes, and a sword; and concluded by putting on my purchases.
What pleasure was it to see myself so well accoutred! My eyes
were never cloyed, as it were, with the richness of my attire.
Never did peacock look at his own plumage with less philosophy.
On that very day, I paid a second visit to Donna Mencia, who
received me with her usual affability. She thanked me over again
for the service I had rendered her. On that subject, rapid was
the interchange of compliments. Then, wishing every kind of
success, she bade me farewell, and withdrew, without giving me
anything but a ring worth thirty pistoles, which she begged me to
keep as a remembrance.
I looked very foolish with my ring! I had reckoned on a much more
considerable present. Thus, little satisfied with the lady’s
bounty, I measured back my steps in a very musing attitude: but
as I entered the inn door, a man over took me, and throwing off
his wrapping cloak, discovered a large bag under his arm. At the
vision of the bag, apparently full of current coin, I stood
gaping as did most of the company present. The voice of angel or
archangel could not have been sweeter, than when this messenger
of earthly dross, laying the bag upon the table, said: Signor Gil
Blas, the lady marchioness desires her compliments. I bowed the
bearer out, with an accumulation of fine speeches; and, as soon
as his back was turned, pounced upon the bag, like a hawk upon
its quarry, and bore it between my talons to my chamber. I untied
it without loss of time, and the contents were; — a thousand
ducats! The landlord who had overheard the bearer, came in just
as I had done counting them, to know what was in the bag. The
sight of my riches displayed upon a table, struck him in a very
forcible manner. What the devil! here is a sum of money! So, so!
you are the man! pursued he with a waggish sort of leer, you know
how to — tickle the — fancies of the ladies! Four and twenty
hours only have you been in Burgos, and marchionesses, I warrant
you, have surrendered at the first summons!
This discourse was not so much amiss. I was half inclined to
leave Majuelo in his error; for it flattered my vanity. I do not
wonder young fellows are fond of passing for men of gallantry.
But as yet the purity of my morals was proof against the
suggestions of my pride. I undeceived my landlord, by telling him
Donna Mencia’s story, to which he listened very attentively.
Afterwards I let him into the state of my affairs; and, as he
seemed to take an interest in them, besought him to assist me
with his advice. He ruminated for some time; then said with a
serious air: Master Gil Blas, I have taken a liking to you; and
since you are candid enough to open your heart to me, I will tell
you sincerely what I think would suit you best. You were
evidently born for a court life: I recommend you to go thither,
and to get about the person of some considerable nobleman. But
make a point either of getting at his secrets, or administering
to his pleasures; unless you do that, it will be all lost time in
his family. I know the great: they reckon nothing upon the zeal
and attachment of a real friend; but only care for pimping
sycophants. You have, besides, another string to your bow. You
are young, with an attractive person: parts out of the question,
for they are not at all times necessary, it is hard if you cannot
turn the head of some rich widow, or handsome wife with a
broomstick for her husband. Love may ruin men of fortune; but it
makes amends by feathering the nests of those who have none. My
vote, therefore, is for Madrid: but you must not make your
appearance there without an establishment. There, as elsewhere,
people judge by the outside; and you will only be respected
according to the figure you make. I will find you a servant, a
tried domestic, a prudent lad; in a word, a fellow of my own
creation. Buy a couple of mules; one for yourself, the other for
him: and set off as fast as you can.
This counsel was too palatable to be refused. On the day
following I purchased two fine mules, and bargained with my new
servant. He was a young man of thirty, of a very simple and godly
appearance. He told me he was a native of Galicia, by name
Ambrose de Lamela. Other servants are selfish, and think they
never can have wages enough. This fellow assured me he was a man
of few wants, and should be contented with whatever I had the
goodness to give him. I bought a pair of boots, with a
portmanteau to lock up my linen and my money. Having settled with
my landlord, I set out from Burgos the next morning before sunrise, on my way to Madrid.
CH. XVI. — Showing that prosperity will slip through a man’s
fingers.
WE slept at Duengnas the first night, and reached Valladolid on
the following day, about four o’clock in the afternoon. We
alighted at the inn of the most respectable appearance in the
town. I left the care of the mules to my fellow, and went up to a
room whither I ordered my portmanteau to be carried by a waiter.
As I felt a little weary, I threw myself on a couch in my boots,
and fell asleep involuntarily. It was almost night when I awoke.
I called for Ambrose. He was not to be found in the house; but
made his appearance in a short time. I asked him where he had
been: he answered in his godly way, that he was just come from
church, whither he went for the purpose of thanksgiving, by
reason that we had been graciously preserved from all perils and
dangers between Burgos and Valladolid. I commended his piety; and
ordered a chicken to be roasted for supper.
At the moment when I was giving this order, my landlord came into
my room with a light in his hand. That cursed candle served to
introduce a lady, handsome, but not young, and very richly
attired. She leant upon an usher, none of the youngest, and a
little blackamoor was her train-bearer. I was under no small
surprise when this fair incognita, with a profound obeisance,
begged to know if my name might happen to be Signor Gil Blas of
Santillane? I had no sooner blundered out yes, than she released
her sweet hand from the custody of the usher, and embraced me
with a transport of joy, of which I knew less and less what to
make. Heaven be praised, cried she, for all its mercies! You are
he, noble sir, the very man of whom I was in quest. By this
introduction I was reminded of my friend the parasite at
Pegnaflor, and was on the point of suspecting the lady to be no
better than an honest woman should be: but her finale gave me a
much higher opinion of her. I am, continued she, first cousin to
Donna Mencia de Mosquera, whom you have so greatly befriended. It
was but this morning I received a letter from her. She writes me
word that having learnt your intention of going to Madrid, she
wished me to receive you hospitably on your journey, if you went
this way. For these two hours have I been parading the town. From
inn to inn have I gone to inform myself what strangers were in
the house;
Comments (0)