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

that the marchioness had an odd taste, or

that crookback courted her as proxy to a better man.

 

Faith and troth, thought I, with all the impertinence of a hasty

opinion, if my mistress really likes a handsome fellow behind the

curtain, all is well; I forgive her her sins: but if she is stark

mad for such a monkey as this, to say the truth, there will be

little mercy for her on male or female tongues. But how foully

did I defame my honoured patroness! The genius of magic had

perched herself upon the little conjurer’s protuberant shoulder;

and his skill having been puffed off to the marchioness, who was

just the right food for such jugglers and their tricks, she held

private conferences with him. Under his tuition she was to

command wealth and treasure, to build castles in the air, to

remove from place to place in an instant, to reveal future

events, to tell what is done in far countries, to call the dead

out of their graves, and terrify the world with many miracles.

Seriously, and to give him his deserts, the scoundrel lived on

the folly of the public; and it has been confidently asserted,

that ladies of fashion have not in all ages and countries been

exempt from the credulity of their inferiors.

 

CH. IX. — An incident that parted Gil Blas and the Marchioness

of Chaves. The subsequent destination of the former.

 

FOR six months I lived with the Marchioness of Chaves, and, as it

must be admitted, on the fat of the land. But fate, who thrusts

footmen as well as heroes into the world, with herself tied about

their necks, gave me a jog to be gone, and swore that I should

stay no longer in that family or in Madrid. The adfsventure by

which this decree was announced shall be the subject of the

ensuing narrative.

 

In my mistress’s female squad there was a nymph named Portia. To

say nothing of her youth and beauty, it was her meek demeanour

and good repute that captivated me, who had yet to learn that

none but the brave deserves the fair. The marchioness’s

secretary, as proud as a prime minister, and as jealous as the

Grand Turk, was caught in the same trap as myself. No sooner did

he cast an unlucky squint at my advances, than, without waiting

to see how Portia might chance to fancy them, he determined pell-mell to have a tilt with me. To forward this ghostly enterprise,

he gave me an appointment one morning in a place sadly impervious

to all seasonable interruption. Yet as he was a little go-by-the-ground, scarcely up to my shoulders, and apparently of feeble

frame, he did not look like a very dangerous antagonist; so away

I went with some little courage to the appointed spot. Thinking

to come off with flying colours, I anticipated the effect of my

bravery on the heart of Portia; but as it turned out, I was

gathering my laurels before they had budded. The little

secretary, who had been practising for two or three years at the

fencing-school, disarmed me like a very baby, and holding the

point of his sword up to my throat, Prepare thyself, said he, to

balance thine accounts with this world, and open a correspondence

with the next, or give me thy rascally word to leave the

Marchioness of Chaves this very day, and never more to think of

my Portia. I gave him my rascally word, and was honest enough not

to think of breaking it. There was an awkwardness in shewing my

face before the servants of the family, after having been

worsted; and especially before the high and mighty princess who

had been the theme of our tournament. I only returned home to get

together my baggage and wages, and on that very day set off

towards Toledo, with a purse pretty well lined, and a knapsack at

my back with my wardrobe and moveables. Though my rascally word

was not given to abandon the purlieus of Madrid, I considered it

as a matter of delicacy to disappear, at least for a few seasons,

My resolution was to make the tour of Spain, and to halt first at

one town and then at another. My ready money, thought I, will

carry me a good way; I shall not call about me very prodigally.

When my stock is exhausted, I can but go into service again. A

lad of my versatility will find places in plenty, whenever it may

be convenient to look out for them.

 

It was particularly my wish to see Toledo: and I got thither

after three days’ journey. My quarters were at a respectable

house of entertainment, where I was taken for a gentleman of some

figure, under favour of my best clothes, in which I did not fail

to bedizen myself. With the pick-tooth carelessness of a lounger,

the affectation of a puppy, and the pertness of a wit, it

remained with me to dictate the terms of an arrangement with some

very pretty women who infested that neighbourhood; but, as a hint

had been given me that the pocket was the high road to their good

graces, my amorous enthusiasm was a little flattered, and, as it

was no part of my plan to domesticate myself in any one place,

after having seen all the lions at Toledo, I started one morning

with the dawn, and took the road to Cuen�a, intending to go to

Arragon. On the second day I went into an inn which std open to

receive me by the road side. Just as I was beginning to recruit

the carnal department of my nature, in came a party belonging to

the Holy Brotherhood. These gentlemen called for wine, and set in

for a drinking bout. Over their cups they were conning the

description of a young man, whom they had orders to arrest. The

spark, said one of them, is not above three-and-twenty: be has

long black hair, is well grown, with an aquiline nose, and rides

a bay horse.

 

I heard their talk without seeming to be a listener; and, in

fact, did not trouble my head much about it. They remained in

their quarters, and I pursued my journey. Scarcely had I gone a

quarter of a mile, before I met a young gentleman on horseback,

as personable as need be, and mounted as described by the

officers. Faith and truth, thought I within myself, this is the

very identical man. Black hair and an aquiline nose! One cannot

help doing a good office when it comes in one’s way. Sir, said I,

give me leave to ask you whether you have not some disagreeable

business on your hands? The young man, without returning any

answer, looked at me from head to foot, and seemed startled at my

question. I assured him it was not wanton curiosity that induced

me to address him. He was satisfied of that when I related all I

had heard at the inn. My unknown benefactor, said he, I will not

deny to you that I have reason to believe myself actually the

person of whom the officers are in quest: therefore I shall take

another road to avoid them. In my opinion, answered I, it would

be better to look out for a spot where you may be in safety, and

under shelter from a storm which is brewing, and will soon pour

down upon our heads. Without loss of time we discovered and made

for a row of trees, forming a natural avenue, which led us to the

foot of a mountain, where we found an hermitage.

 

There was a large and deep grotto which time had worn away into

the heart of the rock; and the hand of man had added a rude front

built of pebbles and shell-work, covered all over with turf: The

adjacent grounds were strewed with a thousand sorts of flowers,

which scattered their perfume; and one was pleased to see hard by

the grotto, a small fissure in the mountain, whence a spring

rippled with a tinkling noise, and poured its pellucid stream

along the meadow. At the entrance of this solitary abode stood a

venerable hermit, seemingly weighed down with years. He supported

himself with one hand upon a staff, and held a rosary of large

beads with the other, composed of at least twenty rows. His head

was almost lost in a brown woollen cap with long ears; and his

beard, whiter than snow, swept down in aged majesty to his waist.

We advanced towards him. Father, said I, is it your pleasure to

allow us shelter from the threatening storm? Come in, my sons,

replied the hermit, after examining me attentively; this

hermitage is at your service, to occupy it during pleasure. As

for your horse, added he, pointing to the court-yard of his

mansion, he will be very well off there. My companion disposed of

the animal accordingly, and we followed the old man into the

grotto.

 

No sooner had we got in than a heavy rain fell, with a terrific

storm of thunder and lightning. The hermit threw himself upon his

knees before a consecrated image, fastened to the wall, and we

followed the example of our host. Our devotions ceased with the

subsiding of the storm; but as the rain continued, though with

diminished violence, and night was not far distant, the old man

said to us — My sons, you had better not pursue your journey in

such weather, unless your affairs are pressing. We answered with

one consent, that we had nothing to hinder us from staying there,

but the fear of incommoding him; but that if there was room for

us in the hermitage, we would thank him for a night’s lodging.

You may have it without inconvenience, answered the hermit, at

least the inconvenience will be all your own. Your accommodation

will be rough, and your meal such as a recluse has to offer.

 

With this cordial welcome to a homely board, the holy personage

seated us at a little table, and set before us a few vegetables,

a crust of bread, and a pitcher of water. My sons, resumed he,

you behold my ordinary fare, but to day I will make a feast in

hospitality towards you. So saying, he fetched a little cheese

and some nuts, which he threw down upon the table. The young man,

whose appetite was not keen, felt but little tempted by his

entertainment. I perceive, said the hermit to him, that you are

accustomed to better tables than mine, or rather that sensuality

has vitiated your natural relish. I have been in the world like

you. The utmost ingenuity of the culinary art, whether to

stimulate or soothe the palate, was exerted by turns for my

gratification, But since I have lived in solitude, my taste has

recovered its simplicity. Now, vegetables, fruit, and milk, are

my greatest dainties; in a word, I keep an antediluvian table.

 

While he was haranguing after this fashion, the young man fell

into a deep musing. The hermit was aware of his inattention. My

son, said he, some thing weighs upon your spirits. May we not be

informed what disturbs you? Open your heart to me. Curiosity is

not my motive for questioning you, but charity, and a desire to

be of service. I am at a time of life to give advice, and you

perhaps are under circumstances to stand in need of it. Yes,

father, replied the gentleman with a sigh, I doubtless do stand

in need of it, and will follow yours, since you are so good as to

offer it; I cannot suppose there is any risk in unbosoming myself

to a man like you. No, my son, said the old man, you have nothing