The Adventures of Gil Blas of Santillane, Alain René le Sage [most read books .txt] 📗

primed and loaded

herself for conquest, in expectation of our visit. Thus

presenting all her charms in full force, she did by me much as

Antonia had done before; but I managed my raptures so discreetly,

that even Scipio had no suspicion. Our conversation turned, as on

the preceding day, on the mutual pleasure of good neighbourhood.

Still he did not open on the subject of Seraphina, nor did we

attempt to draw him out. During our interview, I often cast a

side glance at Dorothea, though with all the reserve of delicate

apprehension; whenever our eyes met, the citadel of my heart was

ready to surrender. To describe the object of my love justly, as

well as feelingly, her beauty was not of the most perfect kind:

her skin was of a dazzling whiteness, and her lips united the

colour with the fragrance of the rose; but her features were not

so regular and well-proportioned as might have been wished: yet,

altogether, she won my heart.

 

In short, I left the mansion of Jutella a different man from what

I was on entering it: so that, returning to Lirias with my whole

soul absorbed in Dorothea, I saw and spoke only of her. How is

this, master! said Scipio with a look of astonishment: you seem

to be very much taken with Don Juan’s sister! Can you be in love

with her? Yes, my friend, answered I: to my shame be it spoken.

Since the death of Antonia, how many lovely females have passed

in review before me with indifference: and must my passions be

irresistibly kindled at this time of life? Indeed, sir, replied

the son of Coselina, you may bless your stars, instead of

squabbling with yourself: you are not so old as to make your

sacrifice at the shrine of love a by-word; and time has not yet

ploughed such furrows on your brow, as to render hopeless the

desire of pleasing. When you see Don Juan next, ask him boldly

for his sister: he cannot refuse her to you; and besides, if his

views in her settlement are ambitious, how can he do better? You

have a patent of nobility in your pocket, and upon that your

posterity may ride easy; after five generations, when pedigree

herself shall be lost in the confusion of her materials, it may

exercise the diligence of learned inquiry, to trace the family of

the Santillanes to the beginning of its archives, and consecrate

the fame of its founder by the indistinctness of his story.

 

CH. XIV. — A double marriage, and the conclusion of the history.

 

By this discourse, Scipio encouraged me to declare myself,

without considering bow he exposed me to the danger of a refusal.

My own resolution was taken with fear and trembling. Though I

carried my years well, and might have sunk at least ten, it did

not seem unlikely that a young beauty might turn up her nose at

the disparity. I determined, however, to bolt the question the

first time I saw her brother, who was not without his

trepidations on the subject of my god-daughter.

 

He returned my call the next morning, just as I had done

dressing. Signor de Santillane, said he, I wish to speak with you

on some serious business. I took him into my closet, where

entering on the subject at once, I imagine, continued he, that

you are not unacquainted with the purpose of my visit: I love

Seraphina; you are all in all with her father; I must request you

therefore to intercede and procure for me the accomplishment of

my heart’s desire: then shall I have to thank you for the prime

bliss of my existence. Signor Don Juan, answered I, as you come

to the point at once, you can have no objection to my following

your example: My good offices are fully at your service, and I

shall hope for yours with your sister in return.

 

Don Juan was agreeably surprised. Can it be possible, exclaimed

he, that Dorothea should have made a conquest of your heart since

yesterday? It is even so, said I, and it would make me the

happiest of men, if the proposal should meet with your joint

approbation. You may rely on that, replied he; though with some

pretensions to family pride, yours is not an alliance to be

despised. You flatter me highly, rejoined I; that you are not

mealy-mouthed about receiving a commoner into your pedigree, is a

mark of good sense; but even if nobility had been a necessary

ingredient in your sister’s requisites for a husband, we should

not have quarrelled on that account. I have worked out twenty

years in the trammels of office; and the king, as a reward of my

long labours, has granted me a patent of nobility. This high-minded gentleman read my credentials over with extreme

satisfaction, and returning them, told me that Dorothea was mine.

And Seraphina yours, exclaimed I.

 

Thus were the two marriages agreed on between us. The consent of

the intended brides was all that remained; for we neither of us

presumed to control the inclinations of our wards. My friend

therefore carried home my proposal to his sister, and I called

Scipio, Beatrice, and my god-daughter together, for the purpose

of laying open a similar project. Beatrice voted loudly for

immediate acceptance, and Seraphina silently. The father did not

say much against it; but boggled a little at the fortune he must

give to a gentleman whose seat required such immediate and

extensive repairs. I stopped Scipio’s mouth by telling him that

was my concern, and that I should contribute four thousand

pistoles to the architect’s estimate.

 

In the evening, Don Juan came again. Your business is going

swimmingly, said I; pray heaven mine may promise as fairly.

Better it cannot, answered he; my influence was quite unnecessary

to prevail with Dorothea; your person had made its impression,

and your manners pleased her. You were afraid she might not like

you; while she, with more reason, having nothing to offer you but

her heart and hand … . What would she offer more? interrupted

I, out of my wits with joy. Since the lovely Dorothea can think

of me without repugnance, I ask no more: my fortune is ample, and

the possession of her is the only dowry I should value.

 

Don Juan and myself, highly delighted at having brought our views

to bear so soon, were for hastening our nuptials, and cutting off

all superfluous ceremonies. I closeted the gentleman with

Seraphina’s parents; the settlemeuts were soon agreed on, and he

took his leave, promising to return next day with Dorothea. My

eager desire of appearing agreeable in that lady’s eyes,

occasioned me to spend three hours at least in adjusting my

dress, and communicating the air of a lover to my person; but I

could not do it so much to my mind as in my younger days. The

preparations for courtship are a pleasure to a young man, but a

serious business and hazardous speculation to one who is

beginning to be oldish. And yet it turned out better than my

hopes or deserts; for Don Juan’s sister received me so

graciously, as to put me in good humour with myself. I was

charmed with the turn of her mind; and foreboded that with

discreet management and much deference, I might really get her to

like me as well as anybody else. Full of this sweet hope I sent

for the lawyers to draw up the two contracts, and for the

clergyman of Paterna, to bring us better acquainted with our

mistresses.

 

Thus did I light the torch of Hymen for the second time, and it

did not burn blue with the brimstone of repentance. Dorothea,

like a virtuous wife, made a pleasure of her duty; in gratitude

for the pains I took to anticipate all her wishes, she soon loved

me as well as if I had been younger. Don Juan and my god-daughter

were most enthusiastic in their mutual ardour; and what was most

unprecedented of all, the two sisters-in-law loved one another

sincerely. Don Juan was a man in whom all good qualities met: my

esteem for him increased daily, and he did not repay it with

ingratitude. In short, we were a happy and united family: we

could scarcely bear the interval of separation between evening

and morning. Our time was divided between Lirias and Jutella: his

excellency’s pistoles made the old battlements to raise their

heads again, and the castle to resume its lordly port.

 

For these three years, reader, I have led a life of unmixed bliss

in this beloved society. To perfect my satisfaction, heaven has

deigned to send me two smiling babes, whose education will be the

amusement of my declining years; and if ever husband might

venture to hazard so bold an hypothesis, I devoutly believe

myself their father.

 

THE END