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

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I made up my mind to take on myself the appearance of a

gentleman. Waiting for the day with the greatest impatience, its

first dawn no sooner greeted my eyes, than I got up. I made such

an uproar in the inn, as to wake the most inveterate sleeper, and

called the servants out of bed, who returned my salute with a

volley of curses. But they found themselves under a necessity of

stirring, and I let them have no rest till they had sent for a

broker. The gentleman soon made his appearance, followed by two

lads, each lugging in a great bundle of green cloth. He accosted

me very civilly, to the following effect: Honoured sir, you are a

happy man to have been recommended to me rather than any one

else. I do not mean to give my brethren an ill word: God forbid I

should offer the slightest injury to their reputation! They have

none to spare. But, between ourselves, there is not one of them

that has any bowels; they are more extortionate than the

Israelites. There is not a broker but myself that has any moral

sense. I keep within the bounds of a reasonable profit. I am

satisfied with a pound in the penny; — no, no! — that is

wrong: — with a penny in the pound. Thanks to heaven, I get

forward fair and softly in the world.

 

The broker, after this preface, which I, like a fool, took for

chapter and verse, told his journeymen to undo their bundles.

They showed me suits of every colour in the rainbow, and exposed

to sale a great choice of plain cloths. These I threw aside with

contempt, as thinking them too undrest; but they made me try on

one which fitted me as well as if I had been measured for it, and

just hit my fancy, though it was a little the worse for wear. It

was a doublet with slashed sleeves, with breeches and a cloak,

the whole of blue velvet with a gold embroidery. I felt a little

hankering after this particular article, and attempted to beat

down the price. The broker, who saw my inclination, told me I had

a very correct taste. By all that is sacred! exclaimed he, it is

plain you are no younker. Take this with you! That dress was made

for one of the first nobility in the kingdom, and has not been on

his back three times. Look at the velvet; feel it: nothing can be

richer or of a better colour; and for the embroidery, come now!

tell truth: did you ever see better workmanship? What is the

price of it? said I. Only sixty ducats, replied he. I have

refused the money, or else I am a liar. The alternative could not

fail in one proposition or the other. I bid five and forty: two

or three and twenty would have been nearer the mark. My worthy

master, said the broker coolly, I never ask too much. I have but

one price. But here, added he, holding up the suits I had thrown

aside; take these: I can afford to sell them a better bargain.

All this only inflamed my eagerness to buy what I was cheapening;

and as I had no idea that he would have made any abatement, I

paid him down sixty ducats. When he saw how easily a fool and his

money were parted, I verily believe that in spite of the moral

sense, he heartily repented not having taken a hint from the

extortionate Israelite. But reconciling himself as well as he

could to the small profit, to which he professed to confine

himself, of a pound upon a penny, he retreated with his

journeymen. I was not suffered to forget that they must have

something for their trouble.

 

I had now a cloak, a doublet, and a very decent pair of breeches.

The rest of my wardrobe was to be thought of: and this took up

the whole morning. I bought some linen, a hat, silk stockings,

shoes, and a sword; and concluded by putting on my purchases.

What pleasure was it to see myself so well accoutred! My eyes

were never cloyed, as it were, with the richness of my attire.

Never did peacock look at his own plumage with less philosophy.

On that very day, I paid a second visit to Donna Mencia, who

received me with her usual affability. She thanked me over again

for the service I had rendered her. On that subject, rapid was

the interchange of compliments. Then, wishing every kind of

success, she bade me farewell, and withdrew, without giving me

anything but a ring worth thirty pistoles, which she begged me to

keep as a remembrance.

 

I looked very foolish with my ring! I had reckoned on a much more

considerable present. Thus, little satisfied with the lady’s

bounty, I measured back my steps in a very musing attitude: but

as I entered the inn door, a man over took me, and throwing off

his wrapping cloak, discovered a large bag under his arm. At the

vision of the bag, apparently full of current coin, I stood

gaping as did most of the company present. The voice of angel or

archangel could not have been sweeter, than when this messenger

of earthly dross, laying the bag upon the table, said: Signor Gil

Blas, the lady marchioness desires her compliments. I bowed the

bearer out, with an accumulation of fine speeches; and, as soon

as his back was turned, pounced upon the bag, like a hawk upon

its quarry, and bore it between my talons to my chamber. I untied

it without loss of time, and the contents were; — a thousand

ducats! The landlord who had overheard the bearer, came in just

as I had done counting them, to know what was in the bag. The

sight of my riches displayed upon a table, struck him in a very

forcible manner. What the devil! here is a sum of money! So, so!

you are the man! pursued he with a waggish sort of leer, you know

how to — tickle the — fancies of the ladies! Four and twenty

hours only have you been in Burgos, and marchionesses, I warrant

you, have surrendered at the first summons!

 

This discourse was not so much amiss. I was half inclined to

leave Majuelo in his error; for it flattered my vanity. I do not

wonder young fellows are fond of passing for men of gallantry.

But as yet the purity of my morals was proof against the

suggestions of my pride. I undeceived my landlord, by telling him

Donna Mencia’s story, to which he listened very attentively.

Afterwards I let him into the state of my affairs; and, as he

seemed to take an interest in them, besought him to assist me

with his advice. He ruminated for some time; then said with a

serious air: Master Gil Blas, I have taken a liking to you; and

since you are candid enough to open your heart to me, I will tell

you sincerely what I think would suit you best. You were

evidently born for a court life: I recommend you to go thither,

and to get about the person of some considerable nobleman. But

make a point either of getting at his secrets, or administering

to his pleasures; unless you do that, it will be all lost time in

his family. I know the great: they reckon nothing upon the zeal

and attachment of a real friend; but only care for pimping

sycophants. You have, besides, another string to your bow. You

are young, with an attractive person: parts out of the question,

for they are not at all times necessary, it is hard if you cannot

turn the head of some rich widow, or handsome wife with a

broomstick for her husband. Love may ruin men of fortune; but it

makes amends by feathering the nests of those who have none. My

vote, therefore, is for Madrid: but you must not make your

appearance there without an establishment. There, as elsewhere,

people judge by the outside; and you will only be respected

according to the figure you make. I will find you a servant, a

tried domestic, a prudent lad; in a word, a fellow of my own

creation. Buy a couple of mules; one for yourself, the other for

him: and set off as fast as you can.

 

This counsel was too palatable to be refused. On the day

following I purchased two fine mules, and bargained with my new

servant. He was a young man of thirty, of a very simple and godly

appearance. He told me he was a native of Galicia, by name

Ambrose de Lamela. Other servants are selfish, and think they

never can have wages enough. This fellow assured me he was a man

of few wants, and should be contented with whatever I had the

goodness to give him. I bought a pair of boots, with a

portmanteau to lock up my linen and my money. Having settled with

my landlord, I set out from Burgos the next morning before sunrise, on my way to Madrid.

 

CH. XVI. — Showing that prosperity will slip through a man’s

fingers.

 

WE slept at Duengnas the first night, and reached Valladolid on

the following day, about four o’clock in the afternoon. We

alighted at the inn of the most respectable appearance in the

town. I left the care of the mules to my fellow, and went up to a

room whither I ordered my portmanteau to be carried by a waiter.

As I felt a little weary, I threw myself on a couch in my boots,

and fell asleep involuntarily. It was almost night when I awoke.

I called for Ambrose. He was not to be found in the house; but

made his appearance in a short time. I asked him where he had

been: he answered in his godly way, that he was just come from

church, whither he went for the purpose of thanksgiving, by

reason that we had been graciously preserved from all perils and

dangers between Burgos and Valladolid. I commended his piety; and

ordered a chicken to be roasted for supper.

 

At the moment when I was giving this order, my landlord came into

my room with a light in his hand. That cursed candle served to

introduce a lady, handsome, but not young, and very richly

attired. She leant upon an usher, none of the youngest, and a

little blackamoor was her train-bearer. I was under no small

surprise when this fair incognita, with a profound obeisance,

begged to know if my name might happen to be Signor Gil Blas of

Santillane? I had no sooner blundered out yes, than she released

her sweet hand from the custody of the usher, and embraced me

with a transport of joy, of which I knew less and less what to

make. Heaven be praised, cried she, for all its mercies! You are

he, noble sir, the very man of whom I was in quest. By this

introduction I was reminded of my friend the parasite at

Pegnaflor, and was on the point of suspecting the lady to be no

better than an honest woman should be: but her finale gave me a

much higher opinion of her. I am, continued she, first cousin to

Donna Mencia de Mosquera, whom you have so greatly befriended. It

was but this morning I received a letter from her. She writes me

word that having learnt your intention of going to Madrid, she

wished me to receive you hospitably on your journey, if you went

this way. For these two hours have I been parading the town. From

inn to inn have I gone to inform myself what strangers were in

the house;