The Adventures of Gil Blas of Santillane, Alain René le Sage [most read books .txt] 📗
- Author: Alain René le Sage
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informed that Pacheco most commonly took up his abode. She asked
if there was any lodging to be let there. The answer was in the
affirmative; and they showed her into a room in very neat
condition, which she hired. She paid down earnest to the
landlady, telling her that it was for one of her nephews who .was
coming from Toledo to finish his studies at Salamanca, and might
be expected on that very day.
The duenna and my mistress, after having made sure of this
apartment, went back the way they came, and the lovely Aurora,
without loss of time, metamorphosed herself into a spruce young
spark. She concealed her black ringlets under a braid of light-coloured hair, the better to disguise herself; … .
manufactured her eyebrows to correspond, and dressed herself up
in such a costume, as to look for all the world as if her sex
were of a piece with her appearance. Her deportment was free and
easy; so that, with the exception of her face, which was somewhat
more delicate than became the manly character, there was nothing
to lead to a discovery of her masquerading. The waiting-woman who
was to officiate as page, got into her paraphernalia at the same
time, and we had no apprehension respecting her competency to
perform her part. There was no danger of her beauty telling any
tales; and besides, she could put on as brazen-faced a swagger as
the most impudent dog in town. After dinner, our two actresses,
finding themselves in cue to make their first appearance on the
stage, where the scene was laid in the ready-furnished lodging,
took me along with them. We all three placed ourselves in the
coach, and carried with us all the baggage we were likely to have
occasion for.
The landlady, Bernarda Ramirez by name, welcomed us with a glut
of civility, and led the way to our room, where we began to make
arrangements with her. We concluded a bargain for our board by
the month, which she undertook should be suitable to our
condition. Then we asked if she had her complement of boarders. I
have none at all at present, answered she. Not that there would
be any want of enough, if I was of the mind to take in all sorts
of people: but young men of fashion are the thing for me. I
expect one of that description this morning: he is coming hither
from Madrid to complete his education. Don Lewis Pacheco! But you
must have heard of him before now. No, said Aurora, I have no
acquaintance whatever with the gentleman; and since we are to be
inmates together, you will do me a kindness by letting me a
little into his character. Please your honour, replied the
landlady, leering at this outside of a man, his figure is as
taking as your own; just the same sort of make, and about the
same size. Oh! how well you will do together! By St James, though
I say it who should not say it, I shall have about me two of the
prettiest young fellows in all Spain. Well, but about Don Lewis!
for my mistress was in a fidget to ask the grand question. Of
course; … . he is well with the ladies in your parts! Enough
of … . of love affairs … . on his hands! Oh! do not you
be afraid of that, rejoined the old lady; it is a forward sprig
of gallantry, take my word for it. He has but to shew himself
before the works, and the citadel sends to capitulate. Among the
number of his conquests, he has got into the good graces of a
lady, with as much youth and beauty as he will know what to do
with. Her name is Isabella. Her father is an old doctor of laws.
She is over head and ears in love with him; absolutely out of her
wits! Well, but do tell me now, my dear little woman, interrupted
Aurora, as if she was ready to burst, is he out of his wits too?
He used to be very fond of her, answered Bernarda Ramirez, before
he went last to Madrid: but whether he holds in the same mind
still, I will not venture to say; because on these points he is
not altogether to be trusted. He is apt to flirt, first with one
woman, and then with another, just as all you young deceivers
take pleasure in doing. You are all alike!
The bonny widow had scarcely got to the end of her harangue,
before we heard a noise in the court. On looking out at the
window, behold! there appeared two young men dismounting from
their steeds. Who should it be, but the identical Don Lewis
Pacheco, just arrived from Madrid with a servant behind him. The
old lady brushed off to go and usher him in; while my mistress
was putting herself in order, not without some palpitation of
heart, to enact Don Felix to the best of her conceptions. Without
waiting for any formalities, in marched Don Lewis to our
apartment in his travelling dress. I have just been informed,
said he, paying his respects to Aurora, that a young nobleman of
Toledo takes up his abode in this house. May I take the liberty
of expressing my joy in the circumstance, and hoping that we may
be better acquainted? During my mistress’s reply to this
compliment, it seemed to me as if Pacheco did not know what to
make of so smock-faced a young spark. Indeed he could not refrain
from declaring a more than ordinary admiration of an air and
figure so attractive. After abundance of discourse, with every
demonstration of reciprocal good breeding, Don Lewis withdrew to
the apartment provided for him.
While he was getting his boots off and changing his dress and
linen, a sort of a page, on the look-out after him to deliver a
letter, met Aurora by chance on the staircase. Her he mistook for
Don Lewis. Thinking he had found the right owner for this tender
message, of which he was the Mercury — Softly! my honoured lord
and master, said he, though I have not the honour of knowing
Signor Pacheco, there can be no occasion for asking whether you
are the man. It is impossible to be mistaken in the guess. No, my
friend, answered my mistress with a most happy presence of mind,
assuredly you are not mistaken. You acquit yourself of your
embassies to a marvel. I am Don Lewis Pacheco. You may retire! I
will find an opportunity of sending an answer. The page vanished,
and Aurora shutting herself up with her waiting-maid and me,
opened the letter, and read to us as follows: — “I have just
heard of your being at Salamanca. With what joy did I receive the
news! I thought I should have gone out of my senses. But do you
love Isabella as well as ever? Lose no time in assuring her that
you are still the same. In good truth, she will almost expire
with pleasure when once she is assured of your constancy.”
This is a mighty passionate epistle, said Aurora. The heart that
indited it has been caught in a trap. This lady is a rival of no
mean capacity. No pains must be spared to wean Don Lewis from
her, and even to prevent any future interview. The undertaking is
difficult, I acknowledge, and yet there seems no reason to
despair of the result. My mistress, taking her own hint, fell
into a fit of musing; from which having recovered as soon as she
fell into it, she added — I will lay a wager they are at
daggers drawn in less than twenty-four hours. It so happened that
Pacheco, after a short repose in his apartment, came to look
after us in ours, and entered once more into conversation with
Aurora before supper. My dapper little knight, said he with a
rakish air, I fancy the poor devils of husbands and lovers will
have no reason to hug themselves on your arrival at Salamanca.
You will make their hearts ache for them. As for myself, I
tremble for all my snug arrangements. I tell you what! answered
my mistress with congenial spirit, your fears are not without
their foundation. Don Felix de Mendoza is rather formidable, so
take care what you are about. This is not my first visit in this
country, the ladies hereabouts, to my knowledge, are made of
penetrable materials. About a month ago my way happened to lie
through this city. I halted for eight days, and you are to know .
… but you must not mention it … . that I set fire to the
daughter of an old doctor of laws.
It was evident enough that Don Lewis was disturbed by this
declaration. Might one without impropriety, replied he, just ask
the lady’s name? What do you mean by impropriety? exclaimed the
pretended Don Felix. Why make any secret about such a matter as
that? Do you think me more of a Joseph than other young noblemen
of my standing? Have a better opinion of my spirit. Besides, the
object, between ourselves, is unworthy of any great reserve, she
is but a little mushroom of the lower ranks. A man of fashion
never quarrels with his conscience about such obscure
gallantries, and even thinks it an honour conferred on a
tradesman’s wife or daughter when he leaves her without any. I
shall therefore acquaint you in plain terms, that the name of the
doctor’s daughter is Isabella. And the doctor himself,
interrupted Pacheco impatiently. he possibly may be Signor Marcia
de la Liana? Precisely so, replied my mistress. Here is a letter
sent me just now. Read it, and then you will see how deeply your
humble servant has dipped into her good graces. Don Lewis just
cast his eye upon the note, and recognizing the handwriting, was
struck dumb with astonishment and vexation. What is the matter?
cried Aurora, with an air of surprise, keeping up the spirit of
her assumed character. You change colour! God forgive me, but you
are a party concerned in this young lady. Ah! Plague take my
officious tongue for having opened my affairs to you with so much
frankness.
I am very much obliged to you for it for my own part, said Don
Lewis in a transport made up of spite and rage. Traitress! Jilt!
My dear Don Felix, how shall I ever requite you! You have
restored me to my senses when they were just on the wing for an
eternal flight. I was tickling myself into a fool’s paradise of
credulous love. But love is too cold a term to express my
extravagancies. I fancied myself adored by Isabella. The creature
had wormed her self into my heart by feigning to give me her own.
But now I know her clearly for a coquette, and as such despise
her as she deserves. Your feelings on the occasion do you
infinite credit, said Aurora, testifying a friendly sympathy in
his resentment. A plodding pettifogger’s worthless brood might
have gorged to surfeit on the love of a young nobleman so
captivating as yourself. Her fickleness is inexcusable. So far
from taking her sacrifice of you in good part, it is my
determination to punish her by the keenest contempt. As for me,
rejoined Pacheco, I shall never set eyes on her again; and if
that is not revenge, the devil is in it. You are in the right,
exclaimed our masquerading Mendoza. At the same time, that she
may fully understand how ineffably we both disdain her, I vote
for sitting down, each of us, and
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