Gil Blas, Alain-René Lesage [best romance ebooks .txt] 📗

answers. The whole story has reached my ears. The Duke d’Almeida has touched your honor to the quick. You are nobly born, and a Castilian: I know what that double character requires. You cherish hostile designs. Admit me a party to your purposes; it must be so. Never fear the consequences of making me your confidant.’

“ ‘Since your majesty commands it,’ resumed I, ‘my sentiments shall be laid open without reserve. Yes, sir, I meditate a severe retribution. Every man, wearing such a name as mine, must account for its untarnished lustre with his family. You know the unworthy treatment I have experienced; and I purpose assassinating the Duke d’Almeida, as a mode of revenge corresponding to the injury. I shall plunge a dagger in his bosom, or shoot him through the head, and escape, if I can, into Spain. This is my design.’

“ ‘It is violent,’ said the king: ‘and yet I have little to say against it, after the provocation which the Duke d’Almeida has given you. He is worthy of the punishment you destine for him. But do not be in a hurry with your project. Leave me to devise a method of bringing you together again as friends.’

“ ‘O! sir,’ exclaimed I with vexation, ‘why did you extort my secret from me? What expedient can⁠ ⁠…’

“ ‘If mine is not to your satisfaction,’ interrupted he, ‘you may execute your first intention. I do not mean to abuse your confidence. I shall not implicate your honor; so rest contented on that head.’

“ ‘I was greatly puzzled to guess by what means the king designed to terminate this affair amicably: but thus it was. He sent to speak with the Duke d’Almeida in private. ‘Duke,’ said he, ‘you have insulted Don Pompeyo de Castro. You are not ignorant that he is a man of noble birth, a soldier who has served with credit, and stands high in my favor. You owe him reparation.’

“ ‘I am not of a temper to refuse it,’ answered the Duke. ‘If he complains of my outrageous behavior, I am ready to justify it by the law of arms.’

“ ‘Something very different must be done,’ replied the king: ‘a Spanish gentleman understands the point of honor too well, to fight on equal terms with a cowardly assassin. I can use no milder term; and you can only atone for the heinousness of your conduct, by presenting a cane in person to your antagonist, and offering to submit yourself to its discipline.’

“ ‘O Heaven!’ exclaimed the duke: ‘what! sir, would you have a man of my rank degrade, debase, himself before a simple gentleman, and submit to be caned!’

“ ‘No,’ replied the monarch, ‘I will oblige Don Pompeyo to promise not to touch you. Only offer him the cane, and ask his pardon: that is all I require from you.’

“ ‘And that is too much, sir,’ interrupted the Duke d’Almeida warmly: ‘I had rather remain exposed to all the secret machinations of his resentment.’

“ ‘Your life is dear to me,’ said the king; ‘and I should wish this affair to have no bad consequences. To terminate it with less disgust to yourself, I will be the only witness of the satisfaction which I order you to offer to the Spaniard.’

“The king was obliged to stretch his influence over the duke to the utmost, before he could induce him to so mortifying a step. However, the peremptory monarch effected his purpose, and then sent for me. He related the particulars of his conversation with my enemy, and enquired if I should be content with the stipulated reparation. I answered, ‘Yes;’ and gave my word that, far from striking the offender, I would not even accept the cane when he presented it. With this understanding, the duke and myself at a certain hour attended the king, who took us into his closet.

“ ‘Come,’ said he to the duke, ‘knowledge your fault, and deserve to be forgiven by the humility of your contrition.’

“Then my antagonist made his apology, and offered me the cane in his hand. ‘Don Pompeyo,’ said the monarch unexpectedly, ‘take the cane, and let not my presence prevent you from doing justice to your outraged honor. I release you from your promise not to strike the duke.’

“ ‘No, sir,’ answered I, ‘it is enough that he has submitted to the indignity of the offer: an offended Spaniard asks no more.’

“ ‘Well then,’ replied the king, ‘since you are content with this satisfaction, you may both of you at once assume the privilege of a gentlemanly quarrel. Measure your swords, and disease the question honorably.’

“ ‘It is what I most ardently desire,’ exclaimed the Duke d’Almeida in a menacing tone; ‘for that only is competent to make me amends for the disgraceful step I have taken.’

“With these words, he went away, full of rage and shame; and sent to tell me two hours after, that he was waiting for me in a retired place. I kept the appointment, and found this nobleman ready to fight lustily. He was not five and forty; deficient, neither in courage nor in skill: so that the match was fair and equal.

“ ‘Come on, Don Pompeyo!’ said he; ‘let us terminate our difference here. Our hostility ought to be reciprocally mortal; yours, for my aggression, and mine, for having asked your pardon.’

“These words were no sooner out of his mouth, than he drew upon me so suddenly that I had no time to reply. He pressed very closely upon me at first, but I had the good fortune to put by all his thrusts. I acted on the offensive, in my turn: the encounter was evidently with a man equally skilled in defence or in attack; and there is no knowing what might have been the issue, if he had not made a false step in retiring, and fallen backwards. I stood still immediately, and said to the duke, ‘Recover yourself.’

“ ‘Why give me any quarter?’ he answered. ‘Your forbearance only aggravates my disgrace.’

“ ‘I will not take advantage of an accident,’ replied I; ‘it would only tarnish my glory.