The Adventures of Gil Blas of Santillane - Alain René le Sage (best fiction books of all time .txt) 📗

his escape.

 

In the mean time, at the howl I had set up two or three of the

robbers waked suddenly; and not knowing but the holy brotherhood

might be falling upon them, they got up and called their

comrades. Without the loss of a moment all were on the alert.

Swords and carabines were put in requisition, and the whole posse

advanced forward almost in a state of nature to the place where I

was parleying with Domingo. But as soon as they learned the cause

of the uproar, their alarm resolved itself into a peal of

laughter. How now, Gil Blas, said the apostate son of the church,

you have not been a good six hours with us, and are you tired of

our company already? You must have a great objection to

retirement. Why, what would you do if you were a Carthusian

friar? Get along with you, and go to bed. This time you shall get

off with Domingo’s discipline; but if you are ever caught in a

second attempt of the same kind, by Saint Bartholomew! we will

flay you alive. With this hint he retired, and the rest of the

party went back to their rooms. The old negro, taking credit to

himself for his vigilance, returned to his stable; and I found my

way back to my charnelhouse, where I passed the remainder of the

night in weeping and wailing.

 

CH. VII. — Gil Blas, not being able to do what he likes, does

what he can.

 

FOR the first few days I thought I should have given up the ghost

for very spite and vexation. The lingering life I led was nearly

akin to death itself; but in the end my good genius whispered me

to play the hypocrite, I aimed at looking a little more cheerful;

began to laugh and sing, though it was some times on the wrong

side of my mouth; in a word, I put so good a face on the matter,

that Leonarda and Domingo were completely taken in. They thought

the bird was reconciled to his cage. The robbers entertained the

same notion. I looked as brisk as the beverage I poured out, and

put in my oar whenever I thought I could say a good thing. My

freedom, far from offending, was taken in good part. Gil Blas,

quoth the captain one evening, while I was playing the buffoon,

you have done well, my friend, to banish melancholy. I am

delighted with your wit and humour. Some people wear a mask at

first acquaintance; I had no notion what a jovial fellow you

were.

 

My praises now seemed to run from mouth to mouth. They were all

so partial to me, that, not to miss my opportunity; — Gentlemen,

quoth I, allow me to tell you a piece of my mind. Since I have

been your guest, a new light breaks in upon me. I have bid adieu

to vulgar prejudices, and caught a ray at the fountain of your

illumination. I feel that I was born to be your knight companion.

I languish to make one among you, and will stand my chance of a

halter with the best. All the company cried Hear! — I was

considered as a promising member of the senate. It was then

determined unanimously to give me a trial in some inferior

department; afterwards to bespeak me a good desperate encounter

in which I might show my prowess; and if I answered expectation

to give me a high and responsible employment in the commonwealth.

 

It was necessary therefore to go on exhibiting a copy of my

countenance, and doing my best in my office of cup-bearer. I was

impatient beyond measure; for I only aspired after the honours of

the sitting, to obtain the liberty of going abroad with the rest;

and I was in hopes that by running the risk of getting my neck

into one noose I might get it out of another. This was my only

chance. The time nevertheless seemed long to wait, and I kept my

eye on Domingo, with the hope of outwitting him: but the thing

was not feasible; he was always on the watch. Orpheus as leader

of the band, with a complete orchestra of performers as good as

himself, could not have soothed the savage breast of this

Cerberus. The truth is, by the by, that for fear of exciting his

suspicion, I did not set my wits against him so much as I might

have done. He was on the look-out, and I was obliged to play the

prude, or my virtue might have come into disgrace. I therefore

stopped proceedings till the time of my probation should expire,

to which I looked forward with impatience, just as if I was

waiting for a place under government.

 

Heaven be praised, in about six months I gained my end. The

commandant Rolando addressing his regiment, said: Comrades, we

must stand upon honour with Gil Blas. I have no bad opinion of

our young candidate; we shall make something of him. If you will

take my advice, let him go and reap his first harvest with us to-morrow on the king’s highway. We will lead him on in the path of

honour. The robbers applauded the sentiments of the captain with

a thunder of acclamation; and to show me how much I was

considered as one of the gang, from that moment they dispensed

with my attendance at the side board. Dame Leonarda was

reinstated in the office from which she had been discharged to

make room for me. They made me change my dress, which consisted

in a plain short cassock a good deal the worse for wear, and

tricked me out in the spoils of a gentleman lately robbed. After

this inauguration, I made my arrangements for my first campaign.

 

CH. VIII. — Gil Blas goes out with the gang, and performs an

exploit on the highway.

 

IT was past midnight in the month of September, when I issued

from the subterraneous abode as one of the fraternity. I was

armed, like them, with a carabine, two pistols, a sword, and a

bayonet, and was mounted on a very good horse, the property of

the gentleman in whose costume I appeared. I had lived so long

like a mole under-ground, that the daybreak could not fail of

dazzling me: but my eyes got reconciled to it by degrees.

 

We passed close by Pontferrada, and were determined to lie in

ambush behind a small wood skirting the road to Leon. There we

were waiting for whatever fortune might please to throw in our

way, when we espied a Dominican friar, mounted, contrary to the

rubric of those pious fathers, on a shabby mule. God be praised,

exclaimed the captain with a sneer, this is a noble beginning for

Gil Blas. Let him go and trounce that monk: we will bear witness

to his qualifications. The connoisseurs were all of opinion that

this commission suited my talents to a hair, and exhorted me to

do my best Gentlemen, quoth I, you shall have no reason to

complain. I will strip this holy father to his birthday suit,

and give you complete right and title to his mule. No, no, said

Rolando, the beast would not be worth its fodder: only bring us

our reverend pastor’s purse; that is all we require. Hereupon I

issued from the wood and pushed up to the man of God, doing

penance all the time in my own breast for the sin I was

committing. I could have liked to have turned my back upon my

fellows at that moment; but most of them had the advantage of

better horses than mine: had they seen me making off they would

have been at my heels, and would soon have caught me, or perhaps

would have fired a volley, for which I was not sufficiently case-hardened. I could not therefore venture on so perilous an

alternative; so that claiming acquaintance with the reverend

father, I asked to look at his purse, and just put out the end of

a pistol. He stopped short to gaze upon me; and, without seeming

much frightened, said, My child, you are very young; this is an

early apprenticeship to a bad trade. Father, replied I, bad as it

is, I wish I had begun it sooner. What! my son, rejoined the good

friar, who did not understand the real meaning of what I said,

how say you? What blindness! give me leave to place before your

eyes the unhappy condition. Come, come, father! interrupted I,

with impatience, a truce to your morality, if you please. My

business on the high road is not to hear sermons. Money makes my

mare to go. Money said he, with a look of surprise; you have a

poor opinion of Spanish charity, if you think that people of my

stamp have any occasion for such trash upon their travels. Let me

undeceive you. We are made welcome wherever we go, and pay for

our board and lodgings by our prayers. In short, we carry no cash

with us on the road; but draw drafts upon Providence. That is all

very well, replied I; yet for fear your drafts should be

dishonoured, you take care to keep about you a little supply for

present need. But come, father, let us make an end: my comrades

in the wood are in a hurry; so your money or your life. At these

words, which I pronounced with a determined air, the friar began

to think the business grew serious. Since needs must, said he,

there is wherewithal to satisfy your craving. A word and a blow

is the only rhetoric with you gentlemen. As he said this, be drew

a large leathern purse from under his gown, and threw it on the

ground. I then told him he might make the best of his way: and he

did not wait for a second bidding, but stuck his heels into the

mule, which, giving the lie to my opinion, for I thought it on a

par with my uncle’s, set off at a good round pace. While he was

riding for his life, I dismounted. The purse was none of the

lightest. I mounted again, and got back to the wood, where those

nice. observers were waiting with impatience to congratulate me

on my success. I could hardly get my foot out of the stirrup, so

eager were they to shake hands with me. Courage, Gil Blas, said

Rolando; you have done wonders. I have had my eyes on you during

your whole performance, and have watched your countenance. I have

no hesitation in predicting that you will become in time a very

accomplished highwayman. The lieutenant and the rest chimed in

with the prophecy, and assured me that I could not fail of

fulfilling it hereafter. I thanked them for the elevated idea

they had formed of my talents, and promised to do all in my power

not to discredit their penetration.

 

After they had lavished praises, the effect rather of their

candour than of my merit, they took it into their heads to

examine the booty I had brought under my convoy. Let us see, said

they, let us see how a friar’s purse is lined. It should be fat

and flourishing, continued one of them, for these good fathers do

not mortify the flesh when they travel. The captain untied the

purse, opened it, and took out two or three handfuls of little

copper coins, an Agnus-Dei here and there, and some scapularies.

At sight of so novel a prize, all the privates burst into an

immoderate fit of laughter. God be praised! cried the lieutenant,

we are very much obliged to Gil Blas: his first attack has

produced a supply, very seasonable to our