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

Aurora, a waiting-maid and a man-servant, and betook herself to a lodging-house, where we had been

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