J. D A R CY, Bookseller & Binder '26 WcUinglon-quny, Diililin. L I B RAR.Y OF THL U N 1VLR5ITY or ILLI NOIS 823 In42n 1823 THE NEW GIL BLAS; OR, PEDRO OF PENAFLOR. BY HENRY D. INGLIS, Author of "Spain in 1830," etc. ^ ncto (Sisitian. IN TWO VOLUMES. VOL. I. LONDON: PRINTED FOR LONGMAN, REES, ORME, BROWN, GREEN, & LONGMAN. 1833. PRINTED BY MANNING AND SMITHSON, 4j LONDON-HOUSE YARD, TO OF QUERUBIM DE LA RONDA, THE INJURED, AND IMMORTAL AUTHOR OF "GIL BLAS DE SANTILLANA," 3 THIS HUMBLE OFFERING IS INSCRIBED. Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2011 with funding from University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign http://www.archive.org/details/neWgilblasorped01ingl CONTENTS VOL. I. CHAPTER I. PAGE My Birth, Parentage, and early Exploits — I leave my Father's house in search of pleasure, and enter into the service of a Caballero - - - 1 II. The extraordinary nature of the Duties required of me by the Caballero my Master — I resolve upon quitting his service ; but find this design easier conceived than executed - - - - 12 III. The Story of the charming Andaluz - - - 18 IV. Fresh proofs of my Master's tyranny — I resolve to be revenged, and carry my resolution into im- mediate effect — I discover how the charming Andaluz stands affected towards me - - 25 V. I leave Seville in company with the charming Anda- luz — My cogitations by the way, and their im- portant consequences - - - - - 32 VI CONTENTS. CHAPTER VI, PAGE I am required to assist the Revenues of the Church at the expense of a dutiful Niece ; but extricate my- self from the difficulty — New prospects open around me, but close again - - - - 39 VII. I engage a Man of the World in my service as Tutor, and study Mankind; but before my Studies are completed, I am deprived of the Lessons of my Preceptor, who is at the same time deprived of his Head 48 VIII. I find a Patroness, and am promoted to an office of great responsibility ------ 59 IX. Containing the Story of Don Fernando de Rubio — From which it will be seen that auguiies work their own accomplishment - - - 67 Shewing how I undertake the management of an affair of the Heart; and how, after having managed it exceedingly well, I have great reason to regret that I did not manage it still better - - 113 XI. Shewing the connexion between disappointed Love and Revenge ; and how Violante acquires all the privileges of Senora„ without losing the attractions of Senorita — I make a new Acquaintance, and am on the eve of enriching myself for ever - 131 CONTENTS. Vll CHAPTER XII. PAGE By which it will be seen, how much truth there is in the saying, " there 's many a slip 'twixt the cup and the lip " ._.-,_ 150 XIII. Containing the sequel of Isabel's Story, — and shewing the great advantage of a bad Reputation, — inas- much as had I not been taken for the Devil, I might have remained until this day in the Tower of Tarifa -..--_. 171 XIV. Shewing that small Occurrences are oftentimes the hinge upon which great Events turn, — and also proving, that courage and good fortune may accomplish any thing - - - - -191 XV. Which narrates the Death of Paulo, notwithstanding the arguments of the Physician ; and shews the sacrifice I made, to purchase a hundred Masses for his Soul 209 XVI. The Confession of Paulo the Smuggler - - - 221 XVII. From which some knowledge of the World may be acquired ; and wherein my good opinion of Man- kind brings my Gold into jeopardy - - - 246 VlU CONTENTS. CHAPTER XVIII. PAGE Containing the First Part of the entertaining Story of Gaston de Pedralba, the One-eyed - - 267 XIX. Being the continuation of the voyage to Alicante; and concluding with the sequel of the entei'tain- ing Story of Gaston de Pedralba, the One-eyed - 304 THE NEW GIL BLAS. CHAPTER I. MY BIRTH, PARENTAGE, AND EARLY EXPLOITS. 1 LEAVE MY father's HOUSE IN SEARCH OF PLEASURE, AND ENTER INTO THE SERVICE OF A CABALLERO. Whether the province of Andalusia, or the kingdom of Castile, had the honour of my nati- vity, is a point upon which there must ever rest some doubt. All I know of the matter is, that I was eating my puchero at Penaflor in Anda- lusia, when I was first able to distinguish one place from another, — a fact, that would of itself be conclusive, were it not, that I have some indistinct recollection of being carried in my infancy across vast mountains ; from which there may, perhaps, be some reason to believe, that I first drew my vital breath in the kingdom of Castile, which all the world knows is separated VOL. 1. B 2 THE NEW GIL BLAS. from Andalusia by the Sierra Morena. I wish I were able to offer some more convincing proof of my Castilian origin; for I am sensible that an unfavourable prejudice vidll be excited against me, from being the native of a province so fruit- ful in rogues as Andalusia. But let my life and actions determine my birth place. Of my parentage, I can speak with scarcely any greater certainty than of the place of my nativity. The master of the house in which I was brought up, used occasionally to address me as his son ; and as he had doubtless the best possible reasons for believing me to be his child, I may venture to conclude that Don Pedro de Segura was my father. I never took great pains to ascertain how the title of Don came into our family. I knew that my father bore it; and as it is not the duty of a son to allow any of the family honours to drop, I continued the distinction in my own person. As for the maternal side of the house, I am totally in the dark : but my ignorance in this matter, will not, I hope, lead any one to shake his head, as if a doubt were thereby cast upon the purity of my lineage : rather let the candour of my con- fession be applauded; when it might have been so easy a matter to have laid claim to Dona this, or Doiia that, the noblest and most virtuous lady in the province of Cordova. THE NEW GIL BLAS. During the years of my cMldliood, my turn for miscliief was only surpassed by my address in screening myself from its effects ; but with all my cunning, I was unable to secure a good reputation in the neighbom-hood : even when a child, every one called me a little rogue ; and as I grew up, the diminutive was omitted. Correction was bestowed upon me by my father with sufficient liberality; but for my part, I never could perceive that the buffets I received produced any of the fruits intended; they only taught me more cunning, and led me to set a still higher value upon those indulgences for which so heavy a penalty was incurred. Many a time my father reproved my incor- rigible love of idleness, which he plainly foresaw would bring me to ruin. " At present," said he, "the produce of the land which I cultivate with the sweat of my brow, fills thy mouth, idle fellow as thou art; but when I am in Paradise what dost thou think will become of thee?" Such representations, however, produced no effect upon me, because I had inwardly resolved that I would never cultivate the land, — feeling even then, that Penaflor was too contracted a field for my genius, — and filled with a desire of seeing the world, of which I already knew something, from two tattered maps of Spain and France, which I had induced a neighbour to B 2 4 THE NEW GIL BLAS. part with, in consideration of a little i\'ory image of some saint, whicli I stole from my father. When all the events of my life are known, it may be thought that this theft was not the greatest of my errors ; yet, it was long a heavy weight upon my conscience; and when on en- tering a church, I saw the pictures of these holy men, I never failed to remember the peccadillo that deprived my father of the protection of this saint. The love of idleness, which my father attri- buted to me, grew with years into a love of pleasure ; my code of philosophy was early formed, — and was not difficult to practise ; and therein, I have always thought, consisted its beauty ; for while I observed others bent upon conforming to a system which ran counter to their inclinations, mine was in constant agree- ment with them. It was simply this, — to en- joy the present moment — a resolution which, through life, I have been careful never to lose sight of. I had now attained the age of eighteen ; and feeling myself already a man, the time seemed to have arrived for entering upon my design of seeing the world. One day, accordingly, when my father had concluded a lecture upon my idleness, I seized the opportunity of laying open my mind to him. " Senor, " said I, " you THE NEW GIL BLAS. 5 perceive that neither remonstrance nor advice produces any change in my conduct ; but this Qught not to occasion you any surprise, because my nature differs from yours, as much as the wild goat differs from the mule; and yet the latter, which labours all its life, does not live so well as the former, which never labours at all. My presence is a source of constant un- easiness to you ; and the life which I lead here, is not such as pleases me. Give me then the portion you intend for me, and let me go in quest of fortune." My father shook his head, as if to express his doubts of my finding what I proposed to go in quest of; but believing that it was useless to oppose the purpose which he saw 1 had already formed, he told me I was at liberty to go when I pleased ; but that I must go with empty pockets, — "because," said he, "it will come to the same thing in the end, whether thou goest with them full or empty." I did not perfectly see the force of this reasoning, — but it was useless to reply: and judging that the parting benediction of a father who would have turned his son out of doors without a real in his pocket, could not be of much efficacy, I stole out of the house four hours after midnight; having previously contrived to secure in the end of my girdle, a few pieces of eight, and 6 THE NEW GIL BLAS. a scanty handful of silver; and not forgetting a crucifix, and a rosary, which I knew to be highly prized by my father, and which, I con- cluded, could not fail to be equally serviceable to me. Although thirty years have elapsed since this time, I well recollect the eventful morning upon which I left my paternal home. It was perhaps, altogether, the happiest moment of my exist- ence ; in it, were concentrated, a thousand anticipated pleasures. All that the world had to oiFer, seemed to be reserved for my use. At a little distance from home, the road led me over an eminence from which an ample prospect presented itself before and behind; morning was now breaking, and Penaflor lay beneath me. I stopped, and looked back: 'twas but one sigh for Federica, the handsome Federica ; one adieu, — partly to my father, and partly to my native place, — and I ran down the steep that hid Penaflor jfrom my view, and soon reached the margin of the Guadalquiver, whose glitter- ing stream, flowing away from home, seemed to invite me forward. " Happy young rogue," said I to myself, as I went merrily on, " money in thy pocket, — activity in thy limls, — the world before thee, and nothing but kicks and stripes behind, — what good fortune is thine !" and proceeding in this THE NEW GIL BLAS. 7 fashion, sometimes congratulating myself aloud, sometimes inwardly, and often laughing for very joy, I walked down the bank of the river, while my feet seemed scarcely to touch the ground ; but after a few hours, feeling a little weary, and hearing my money chink in the end of my girdle,* — for I had not tied it up so close but that I might hear so pleasant a sound, — I re- solved to walk no longer than was agreeable to me; and seating myself by the brink of the river, I amused myself with counting my money, until some boat should pass down the stream towards Seville, to which famous city it was my design to proceed. I had not sat a very long time, when a boat came in sight, — and having hailed it, I was received on board. Among the passengers, were a Caballero, and a lady, who seemed to be husband and wife, though no conjunction could be more imnatural. The lady could not have been more than twenty ; dark, like all her countrywomen, and like some, with a tinge of Moorish blood in her cheek, her jetty ringlets, and coal black eyes, were beautifully contrasted with two rows of pearly teeth, just visible * Almost every Andalusian wears a sash or girdle, generally of crimson silk, — and he carries his money tied up in the end of this. 8 THE NEW GIL BLAS. between the most bewitching lips in the world. As for her shape and gait, it is enough to say she was Andalusian. The Caballero who stood beside her, was tall, muscular, and shapeless; his face was like a bronze statue, upon which time and the elements together, had tried their powers ; only, that no statuary would have placed the eyes as distant from each other, as those of a Polar bear ; nor would he have for- gotten the rule, by which the nose is entitled to be the most prominent part of the face. Such as he was, however, he was the husband of this lady, — how, or by what means he obtained that felicity, may perhaps be told hereafter. It was easy to see, that the situation of the Senora was not to be envied : deep dejection was visible in her downcast eyes, as well as in the motion of her fan; and I found no difficulty in concluding, that she had either left her heart at Cordova, or wherever else she had come from, — or that she was ready to bestow it upon anybody rather than upon her husband. Meantime, the boat glided down the river; I had already almost forgotten the Caballero and his wife, and was again occupied with my present good fortune, and pleasant anticipations, when some one touched my shoulder. I turned round, and saw the bronze-visaged and leaden- eyed Caballero. "Young man," said he, "if THE NEW GIL BLAS. 9 thou art inclined to enter into service, tlion \rilt find in me a master to thy liking." " Senor," said I, " it is only a few hours since I became my own master, — and I have no inclination to part so soon with my advan- tag-e ; thanks to you, nevertheless, for your offer." "Thou hadst best consider well," rejoined he ; " thou shalt be well fed, and well lodged, — and with the exception of a very easy and trifling duty which I will afterwards explain, thou shalt be as much thy own master, as if thou hadst nothing to do but to amuse thyself, — and more- over," added he, " thou art at liberty to leave my service when it becomes disagreeable to thee." This offer was not to be rejected : to be well fed, and well lodged, and to amuse myself as I pleased, promised well, — more especially since I should have the privilege of changing my condition when I had a mind ; and besides, I augured well of my master's disposition, from his making choice of one as a servant, whose personal qualifications could not fail to remind him daily of his own deficiences. I accordingly consented to enter into his service; and the same evening, a little before sunset, we reached Seville; and put up at the Posada de la Con- cepcion, the most celebrated among the hotels of that city. b3 10 THE NEW GIL BLAS. My master (whose name and titles I found to be, Don Jose Andrades, de Carmona) informed me, that during the next two days, I might employ my time in the manner most agreeable to me ; and that at the expiration of that period, I should enter upon my duties in the house which he had hired. I did not fail to make the best use of my permission. The enjoyments of Seville are not to be exhausted in a day; and there are few of them that escaped me. I was charmed with the cleanness of the streets, and the whiteness of the houses ; I was never weary of looking into the cool patios* with their fountains and flower vases ; the size and magni- ficence of the cathedral filled me with astonish- ment; I was captivated with the beauty and fragrance of the orange and lemon groves that surround the city; and delighted with the Paseo,-\ where for the first time, I saw collected * The patio is the luxury of a hot climate : it is an inner court, open to the sky, but the sun scarcely reaches it ; and there is always a contrivance by which an awning may be drawn over it. The floor is of marble, or of painted Valencia tUes : sometimes a fountain plays in the centre ; and a choice assortment of flowers — sweet-smelling and beautiful, is disposed around in ornamented vases. Here, the inmates escape from the noon-day heat ; and here, in the evening, every family assembles, to converse, see their friends, play the guitar, and sip lemonade. — Spain in 1 830. t Place of promenade. THE NEW GIL BLAS. 11 together, every order of friar under the sun : but above all, I was enchanted with the ravish- ing charms of the women, who seemed to me, a congregation of goddesses. " This," said I to myself, "is a most charming kind of servi- tude; — the world is even a more exquisite place than I have ever imagined it, — happy day, when I bade adieu to Penailor !" At length, — and too soon, the time allowed me by my master was expired ; and upon the afternoon of the third day, I followed him to a large gloomy house in that part of the city which lies near to the bridge of boats; and there, sliowing me a chamber, he desired me to remain in it until I should be summoned. So far, I had no cause to complain; the room, which I concluded to be that appropriated to my use, contained a tolerable bed; and in a closet, I found a well-conditioned skin of red "wine, — bread, chocolate, melons, and other articles, — which appeared to make good my master's pro- mise, that I should be well fed and well lodged;. and in return for this, I was told I should only have to perform a trifling and easy duty. CHAPTER II. THE EXTRAORDINARY NATURE OF THE DUTIES REQUIRED OF ME BY THE CABALLERO MY MASTER. 1 RESOLVE UPON QUITTING HIS SERVICE ; BUT FIND THIS DESIGN EASIER CONCEIVED THAN EXECUTED. It was nearly three hours after I had been left to myself, before I was summoned to the pre- sence of my master. This interval I had passed not disagreeably, with the help of my provender; and the summons roused me from a doze to which some copious draughts from the wine- skin had disposed me. I found the Caballero, and the beautiful lady, his wife, in a large saloon, fitted up with great taste, and even luxury. Don Jose looked so hideous, that I almost trembled as he bade me approach him; nor could I help commiserating the unhappy fate of the fair creature who was bound in so dreadful a partnership. "Young man," said he, raising his leaden eyes to mine, " you remember our agreement. I became bound to lodge and feed you to your satisfaction, — and engaged that the duties re- THE NEW GIL BLAS. 13 quired of you should not be heavy, or difficult of performance : you, on your part, engaged yourself in my service, the meaning of which is, that you shall obey my orders, — are not these the terms of our agreement?" I made an obeisance, — and replied, that such were indeed the terms upon which I had entered into his service. " It is well ; " said he, " take this," putting into my hand a leathern thong that lay upon the table, " the only service that I shall require of you is, that you lay twenty stripes upon the shoulders of that lady, my wife : when you have performed this service, you shall be your own master until to-morrow at the same hour, when the same service will be again required of you." This was a most unheard-of duty : to be fed, lodged, and my own master to boot, twenty- three hours and three quarters out of the twenty- four, I would assuredly not have strained at a gnat, — but I confess, that the price demanded of me for these advantages, was not at all to my liking. Picaro* as perhaps I was by nature, harshness towards the gentler sex was no part of my character. I would rather have run my knife through twenty such fellows as Andrades, than have inflicted one stripe upon the charm- ing Isabel, — for such was the name of his wife. " Senor," said I, " this service, as you name it, * Roguish fellow. 14 ' THE NEW GIL BLAS. which you require of me, I hold to be no part of our bargain; the duty of a servant extends only to the benefit of his master; but the duty which you require of me, cannot in any way advantage you." When I raised my eyes to the Caballero, after delivering this intrepid speech, I was surprised at my own courage in having dared to question his will. His countenance was more hideous than ever,^ — a dull glimmer shone in his eyes, which he fixed full upon me, — and then, without saying a word, he arose, — went into an adjoining room, and returning with a huge sabre, laid it upon the table, telling me it was folly to abridge the time I had at my own disposal, by fruitless opposition to his will; for he had no doubt I knew my own interest better, and valued my life more, than to provoke his anger, — at the same time glancing significantly towards the sabre which lay glittering before him; and I, for my part, already saw in imagination my head rolling on the floor. Yielding, therefore, to the direction of the proverb, that says, nece- sidad carece de let/,* I performed my reluctant task with the best grace I could, and in the gentlest manner I dared; firmly resolved, how- ever, to be revenged on the barbarous Andrades at my leisure, and to leave his service with all speed. • Necessity has no law. .». i. i— J THE NEW GIL BLAS. 15 " Young man," said he, when I had finished the duty prescribed, " I am satisfied with thy obedience, — take this," putting a purse into my hand, "and remember never again to question the will of thy master." The purse — the re- ward of so ungallant a service, I ought perhaps to have rejected; — but the fear of offending my master by refusing his bounty, balanced the reasons for this act of greatness of soul, — and the weight of the purse (which was tempt- ingly heav}'^), being thrown into the scale, there was no alternative left. When I retired to my chamber, I threw myself upon a chair, — and revolved upon the extraordinary scene in which I had been an unwilling actor. What, I asked myself a thou- sand times, can be the cause of so singular, and so cruel a proceeding? and I resolved before the next evening, to be beyond the reach of my master's summons, — or in other words, to have no master at all. " 'T is, however, a good beginning in one sense," said I to myself, "a tolerable day's work for a youth in quest of fortune," emptying the purse upon the table, and counting over twenty as good dollars as ever issued from his Catholic majesty's mint, " and who knows that there might not be a repetition of this bounty?" But such selfish feelings were checked by a recollection of Isabel — -and I again resolved that I would never more 16 THE NEW GIL BLAS. be the iinwillmg instrument of such barbarity. All that night I dreamt of Isabel, and her pity- imploring eyes, — and the Caballero's hideous face, and glittering sabre, — and awoke with a more fixed determination than ever, not to re- main another day in the service of so unfeeling a master. No sooner had I dressed myself, than care- fully fastening my dollars in my girdle, I cau- tiously made way to the entrance-door, — but to my dismay, I found that it was locked, and all my eiforts to open it were unavailing. I next attempted to find the means of escape by one of the lower windows ; but these also I found strongly secured with iron bars. " Here is a pretty business," said I to myself; " I leave home in search of freedom, and in three days I find myself in a prison ; of what use are these twenty dollars to me, if I am denied the oppor- tunity of spending them ! " Occupied with these gloomy thoughts, I stepped cautiously towards the saloon where I had left the Caballero and his unhappy wife the night before, listening if I could catch any sound of voices, or of footsteps : but no sound was to be heard; the door stood a-jar, and looking in I saw the unfortunate lady reclining upon a sofa, and alone. Her eye had caught my figm-e, or its shadow, and she de- manded quickly, who approached ? I presented myself at the door, — and in the sweetest voice THE NEW GIL BLAS. 17 imaginable, she desired me to enter. I imme- diately threw myself upon my knees before her, expressing my contrition for the part I had acted yester-night ; and protesting, that nothing but the dread of instant death, could have com- pelled me to abuse so sweet a lady " And yet methinks," replied she, " I would have sub- mitted to a thousand deaths, rather than have inflicted stripes upon thee ;" but I told her, and I called all the saints to witness the smcerity of my words, that I too would have submitted with- out a murmur to the stroke of the sabre, had it not been, that in consenting to live, I had secretly vowed to devote my life to the deliver- ance of so injured and so charming a wife, from the tyranny of so merciless a husband. "Alas!" replied she, "were I to accept of your kind proffers in my favour, it would be at the expense of a brother's life, and a father's prosperity. But you are doubtless curious to learn the cause of the scene in which I am willing to believe you were reluctantly an actor. The Caballero will not return until evening; meanwhile there is ample time to make you acquainted with the circumstances that have brought me into my present unhappy condition." I accordingly disposed myself to listen with impatience, to the narrative which shall be the subject of the next chapter. CHAPTER III. THE STORY OF THE CHARMING ANDALUZ. " It must appear to you unaccountable, that I should be the wife of such a monster as Don Jose de Andrades ; for although I am far from vaunting my charms, as greater than those of other women, yet, it would only be affectation in me to deny, that they might reasonably lead me to expect an alliance more agreeable to my taste; but when I shall have narrated to you the circumstances that led to this union, you will be inclined to pity that fate, which I should richly merit, had I voluntarily become the wife of Don Jose. " I am of the province of Andalusia, and of the town of Valenzuela, of which Andrades possesses the senorio. My father is an extensive occupier of olive lands under my husband ; and until the expiration of my nineteenth year, I lived in my father's house, wdthout a care, and might so have lived till this day, but for the THE NEW GIL BLAS. 19 malignant design of the demon, rather than man, who has made the possession of me, the price of a father's bread, and a brother's life. " I need say nothing to you, of the hideous- ness of my husband's countenance, nor, after what you have witnessed, is it necessary for me to tell you that his heart is as deformed as his face. Born, an exception to the beauty of his race, he early became a hater of his species; the tyranny which he has exercised from youth upwards, upon all who have had the misfortune to be dependent upon him, has made him to be univer- sally hated ; and even if he had possessed the countenance of an angel, his bad name would have been an effectual barrier to his design of obtaining a wife, upon whom he might at all times have it in his power to wreak his malig- nant spite. Many attempts were, however, made by him ; and he was careful to single out as the object of his pursuit, such as possessed the largest share of personal charms; not be- cause he was an admirer of beauty, but because he was a hater of it ; for precisely in proportion to the personal gifts bestowed by nature upon those who have had the misfortune to be in his power, has been the barbarity with which he has treated them. It was in vain however, that even with his great riches, he made proposals to several of the most charming young persons in 20 THE NEW GIL BLAS. the province, as well as in the city of Cordova ; jf he spoke to their parents, they, willing to escape the odium of a refusal, referred him to their daughters, and from them, he met with nothing but abhorred looks, or contemptuous laughter. " In an evil day, he cast his eyes upon me ; he knew well that my father was dependent upon him ; and although I could not boast the charms of some of those high-bred dames who had re- jected him, yet, I unfortunately presented in his eyes, a sufficient contrast to his own deformity, to make me an object worthy of his pursuit. " It was a gloomy evening within my father's house, when Don Jose de Andrades demanded me in marriage. The old man hardly raised his head, while my mother did nothing but weep and lament by turns; but my brother swore with a great oath, that he would snatch me from the altar, and that rather than I should be the wife of Andrades, he would with his own hand rid the world of so great a monster. As for me, I said I would die before yielding my consent, and it was finally determined between me and my brother, that if no other means of escape could be devised, I should take refuge in the convent of Santa Monica in Valenzuela, — an alternative, far from agreeable to one, who then only waited the expiration of a definite period, THE NEW GIL BLAS. 21 to bestow her hand where she had already be- stowed her ajOfections." Here the gentle lady began to weep, in remembrance doubtless, of the fond hopes that she had once cherished ; and after a short pause, she again proceeded. " Before finally resolving upon this step, I judged it advisable to lay open my heart at the confessional. There, in reply to my petition for holy counsel, I was told, that self-sacrifice is a virtue in the sight of heaven ; and that I should be performing a more ac- ceptable service, in consenting to be the wife of Andrades, than in becoming the bride of heaven : * since,' said the holy man, 'the dowry you would lay on the lap of God, might be the ruin of your family, and perhaps, the curse of a father.' "I dared not oppose myself any longer to what appeared to be the will of heaven ; though I yet trusted, that in recompence for this submis- sion, God would interpose between me and the dreaded hour. I made known to my parents, the resolution I had come to: they knew not whether to mourn, or to rejoice ; but reposing on the spiritual direction I had received, they said, * it is the will of heaven.' " The day arrived, and I stood before the altar. Suddenly, and when the irrevocable vow was all but said, the quick trampling of horses' feet was 22 THE NEW GIL BLAS. heard without — my heart beat quick — 'hasten the ceremony,' said Andrades with a command- ing tone ; the priest put the question, which, to have answered, would have been, to bind myself to the wretch who stood by my side ; I remained silent; it was repeated. I* heard the sounds approach, 'never !' I said, and at the same instant a tumult arose at the door, — I heard the clash of swords : my brother, and he to whom I was be- trothed, sprung to the altar ; the vassals of Don Jose crowded into the church, and I saw both of those that I loved, bound, and led away pri- soners ; but not until the altar streamed with the mingled blood of Andrades and his assailants. " Alas ! this aifray, intended for my rescue, but sealed my fate. ' Choose now,' said the barbarous arbiter of my destiny, ' choose now betwixt the death of those madmen, and an union with me. They have violated the sanc- ' tuary, they have spilled blood upon the altar, — and attempted assassination ; I have but to speak the word, and they are delivered over to the hands of the executioner;* but if you will instantly complete this ceremony, they are free.' " Alas ! I knew the power of the monster who * Leaving this village, I noticed two stone pUlars, and a wooden pole across, indicating that the proprietor possessed the power of life and death within his own domain. — Spain in 1830. THE NEW GIL BLAS. 23 spoke ; and I knew the malignity of his nature too well, to permit me to entertain the smallest hope, that he would not employ his power so as amply to satisfy his vengeance. I yielded, — the vow passed my lips, — and I became the wife of Andrades. I never doubted of the treatment which it would one day be my lot to experience. I received, however, a longer respite from it than I expected ; for at the castle of Valenzuela, he succeeded for a week in restraining his evil nature; but he has come hither, that there might be no witness of the barbarities which, from the first, he had resolved to exercise upon me. Last night was but the commencement of them. Wretched woman that I am ! there is no escape from my miseries ; for even were it in my power to obtain my freedom, that would but consign my brother and my lover to certain death. As for you, I have no doubt that the same envious feeling, and diabolical purpose, that induced him to seek a spouse among the fairest of the province, has also prompted him to engage you in his service ; and that you, in your turn, will contribute towards his appetite for cruelty, and be made a victim to his hatred of the human race." 24 THE NEW GIL BLAS. It was thus, that the beautiful Andaluz' made an end of her relation. I had inwardly deter- mined while she was speaking, that if I could conjoin my own safety with her deliverance, I would not be backward in making the attempt; but the concluding sentence of the narrative brought danger so home to myself, that my own deliverance seemed to be the first object; and to this, accordingly, I resolved without delay, to bend all my endeavours. Nevertheless, I could not but feel some sympathy (the more, that I might speedily require it myself) with the misfortunes, and unhappy condition, of the charming young creature who reclined upon the sofa before me. I told her, how truly I com- miserated her unfortunate situation, and that if any plan could be devised by which we might both be saved, she might command my most faithful services. "At present," said she, " retire ; to-morrow, God willing, I may have resolved upon some project, and will then speak with you further." CHAPTER IV. PRESH PROOFS OF MY MASTER S TYRANNY. 1 RESOLVE TO BE REVENGED, AND CARRY MY RESOLUTION INTO IM- MEDIATE EFFECT.- — I DISCOVER HOW THE CHARMING ANDALUZ STANDS AFFECTED TOWARDS ME. It was not with sensations the most enviable in the world, that I returned to my chamber. I was here, entirely in the power of a man, who, by all accounts, diverted himself with the sufferings of others, and if it afforded him pleasure to chas- tise his wife, might it not give him still more exquisite delight, to torture his servant. I drew forth my crucifix, coimted my beads, and besides the repetition of innumerable aves, I invoked the protection of as many saints as I knew the names of; but I received little comfort from this, and scarcely more, from my wine-skin, from which I took copious draughts. My heart died within me, when I heard the harsh grating of the bolt, and my master's foot ascend the staircase; and when a few minutes afterwards I was summoned to his presence, I felt that VOL. I. c 26 THE NEW GIL BLAS. I was prepared to do his bidding, even without the hope of another purse of dollars. " Picaron,^' said he, as I entered the room, " so thou hast thought to leave my service ; is it not an understood part of our agreement, that thou remainest in my service so long as I fulfil my part of it ? art thou not well fed, well lodged, and thy own master ?" I was about to reply, that shut up in a house with locked doors, one could not well be called one's own master ; but raising my eyes, the countenance of the Cabal- lero looked so grim, and the glimmer in his leaden eye, so like a spark of hell fire, that my words died in my throat : I plainly saw that the prediction of his wife was about to be accom- plished. " To-night, " said he, " we 'U reverse the pastime ; 't is but fair the lady should have her revenge. Madam," said he, "return with inte- rest, if you please, the twenty stripes which were bestowed upon you yesternight." " I '11 sooner die !" replied she with spirit. " Well, madam, " resumed Andrades, " so much the worse for this knave ; for every stripe which you refuse to bestow upon him, I will myself bestow three ; " and taking the thong in his hand, he raised his giant arm, which, had it fallen, would doubtless have left a scar for life : for my part, seeing the turn the affair was likely THE NEW GIL BLAS. 27 to take, I cast an imploring look at Isabel, who, at the very moment when the arm of Andrades was about to fall, interposed by signifying her willingness to do what was required of her. Although I disliked the idea of losmg my head by a sabre blow, and being huddled out of sight, I was no coward, and disdained to flinch from an infliction from so delicate a hand, — but in my heart, 1 vowed triple vengeance upon the rufiian who stood grinning approbation. "To-day," said he, " thou hast had a holiday, I have re- quirea no service at thy hands ; fall down upon thy knees then, and thank so indulgent a master." At this moment, a thought darted into my mind, which it was necessary instantly to reject, or to act upon : whether it was the humiliation of falling upon my knees before so execrable a monster that nerved me with a sudden resolu- tion, — or, that the good saints to whom I had recommended myself put the thought into my heart, I cannot undertake to determine; but secretly invoking their protection, I formed my resolution. The Caballero stood before me, — and upon the table, at one side, lay the un- sheathed sabre, the handle extending over the table, and within my reach. I fell upon my knees, in obedience to the orders of my master, at the same moment seizing both his feet, with a violent jerk I flung him from his balance, c2 28 THE NEW GIL BLAS. and he fell backward: immediately I seized the sabre, and sprung to my feet, and scarcely had he measured his length upon the floor, ere I transfixed him to it. As his blood streamed over the painted porcelain,* I thought how fortunate it was, that the blood was his and not mine, and how easy a matter it would have been for him with so excellent a weapon, to have swept my head from my shoulders ! " The saints be praised ! " said I to the charming Andaluz, as I wiped the sword upon the damask, "this is a riddance." As for her, she could scarcely believe that the indomitable Andrades lay dead at her feet. " He 's dead, sure enough, " said I, as I held a light to his face, which was not only the face of Andrades dead, but Andrades damned ; for so fiendish an ex- pression was in it, that it was clear he had already entered among the fraternity of devils. Isabel, thoroughly convinced that her hus- band's tyranny in this world was at an end, extended her hand to me in token of her grati- * I was much struck with the interior of the houses, particularly with the beauty of the floors. These, through- out an extensive suit of apartments opening into each other, were covered with the Valencia tile, which is a kind of porcelain. The pieces of which the floors are composed are about nine inches square, the ground white, and each having a flower, or some other device painted upon it with the utmost truth and delicacy. — Spain m 1830. THE NEW GIL BLAS. 29 tude for the essential service I liad rendered her; and I, recollecting that I had at the same time rendered her a widow, saw no impropriety in taking the hand that was offered to me, and even of pressing it to my lips. This important act of the drama being now concluded, and having, by way of interlude, refreshed myself •with a morsel of cabrito, and a few mouthfuls of excellent wine, with which the Caballero had been regaling himself (as for Isabel, the sight of blood had taken away her appetite), it was necessary to resolve next, upon what use should be made of the event that had so happily termi- nated our captivity. I could scarcely entertain any doubt but that I should find in the Cabal- lero's repositories, some considerable supply of gold, which, although perhaps legally belonging to his wife, I thought I had best claim to, both as her deliverer and as an indemnification for the stripes I had received. " Madam," said I, " it must doubtless afford you the most lively pleasure to think, that you are now at liberty to bestow yourself upon the favoured person to whom you were betrothed, and who risked his life to snatch you from the altar." " And yet," said she with an engaging smile, " had it not been for your intrepidity, I should never have had it in my power to do this ; and 30 THE NEW GIL BLAS. if," continued the charming Andaluz, casting her eyes upon the ground, " I thus reward him who only attempted to rescue me, how shall I find means to repay the more effectual service which you have now rendered me?" I was young, and inexperienced, — but not so young, or so inexperienced, as to be unable to comprehend, that I had made an impression upon the heart of the beautiful Andaluz; nor was I so indiiferent to the charms of the fair sex, as to see, without emotions I scarcely wished to control, the humid softness that filled those dark eyes, — the deep tinge, that mounted to the cheek, and the jetty ringlets that half shrouded that heaving bosom ; and yet, when I cast my eyes upon the hideous wretch that lay upon the ground, and glanced at my own figure in the broad mirror opposite, I could not find great cause to be flattered by the sud- den preference shown to me by the new-made widow of such a monster. Nevertheless, such moments do not occur every day, — and kissing away the tear from her cheek, with an air of the utmost tenderness, I inquired of her if she knew where Andrades kept his gold, for without gold, nothing could be resolved upon. She replied, with the greatest afiability, that she could only suspect, but was not certain, where the Caballero had kept his gold, — and taking THE NEW GIL BLAS. 31 me by the hand, and stepping over Andrades, who lay just in the doorway, she led me into an adjoining room, where in a closet, the key of which I took out of the Caballero's pocket, we found four hundred gold pieces, which I trans- ferred to mine. Isabel presented me also with a box of valuable jewels, the gift of her husband, and when to all this was added, a heavy purse from the person of the Caballero, and a gol4 watch set with brilliants, it will be admitted I think, that even leaving out of account the tenderness of the charming Andaluz, I was not ill rewarded for my intrepidity. Feeling that it might bear an uncharitable construction were I to leave Isabel in her pre- sent desolate condition, and in some degree perhaps, attracted by her charms, and particu- larly by the prettiest little foot in the world, which she had inadvertently shown in stepping over Andrades, I resolved that she should ac- company me ; but in what capacity, I determined to be guided by circumstances. CHAPTER V. I LEAVE SEVILLE IN COMPANY WITH THE CHARMING ANDA- LUZ : MY COGITATIONS BY THE WAY, AND THEIR IM- PORTANT CONSEQUENCES. This was assuredly a very sudden, and agree- able reverse of fortune. A week had scarcely elapsed since I left home with a purse so scantily provided, that nothing but a miracle could have saved me from starvation; now, my riches were so considerable, that when deposited in my pockets (for my girdle was insufficient to con- tain them all), Isabel declared their bulk spoiled my shape. This objection however, I speedily obviated, by changing my own for a handsome suit of Don Jose's, which Isabel fetched me; and although it can scarcely be supposed, that my slight and youthful figure could be greatly set off by the change, yet the ample dimensions of my new dress, effectually removed the de- formity of which Isabel had so justly complained. There was now nothing farther to prevent us from taking advantage of the change in our THE NEW GIL BLAS. 33 circumstances: taking possession therefore of the great key, extinguishing the lights, and leaving Andrades lying where he fell, we made our exit from the mansion; and repaired to the stable, where Isabel assured me we should find excellent mules. But here a difficulty presented itself: mules indeed, we found, — but Andrades having meant them for his own use, a side-saddle was no where to be met with. " There is a remedy for this difficulty," said I, " if you will consent to it: I am but little taller than you, the clothes I have put off are at your service ; and by their assistance we may extricate ourselves from this difficulty, and have the advantage besides, of a double disguise." Isabel could allege nothing against this proposal, and there- fore returning together to the mansion (Isabel being too timid to venture alone where An- drades lay dead) she made her toilette in the best manner she was able ; and this done, we again left the house, and placing Isabel upon one mule, and throwing myself upon another, we sallied forth, just as midnight chimed from the cathedral. We took the first exit from the city that presented itself, for luckily, the house being situated without the walls, we had no gate to pass through, and we soon found ourselves on the high road. As morning dawned, I perceived, with a c3 34 THE NEW GIL BLAS. smile, the strange and somewhat ludicrous ap- pearance of my companion, who (besides that a figure somewhat en hon point, scarcely suited a dress which I had myself outgrown), had con- trived to make some curious mistakes in the adjustment of her attire. As morning advanced, our appearance created considerable merriment among the early husbandmen, and persons going to market, — and when about breakfast time we made our entrance into the small town of Utrera, the ample folds of my habiliments, and the scanty dimensions of those of my com- panion, as well as their strange adjustment, created a sensation proportioned to the singu- larity of the spectacle. As for me, I rode along with the greatest unconcern, and as if I were at a loss to comprehend the cause of so much merriment; but Isabel hung down her head, and testified her embarrassment, by the haste she made to escape the gaze of the smiling tatterdemalions who sat wrapt up in their brown cloaks under the walls. We no sooner reached the posada, than Isabel rectified the errors in her dress; but thinking that her disguise in some degree contributed to my safety, I prevailed upon her still to con- tinue it; but I agreed to her proposal that we should no longer travel on mules, but should continue our journey in a vehicle, something THE NEW GIL BLAS. 35 between a coach and a waggon — wliich the inn- keeper fortunately had to dispose of. But, when we were seated in the carriage, and again on the road, I felt that the last few hours had wrought a considerable alteration in my feelings. Isabel reclining on the sofa, — her glossy ringlets, her charming foot, her rounded arm, her fault- less form, had created a tumult within me, and filled my heart, if not with love, at least with new and pleasing sensations, so that I coveted Don Jose's gold, scarcely more than his widow — ^but Isabel, upon a mule, trotting beside me in my cast-off dress, greatly weakened the illusion ; which was indeed almost entirely dissipated by the ludicrous effect of her attire ; for in all my experience of the world, I have found that the comic is the deadliest enemy of passion. So it proved in tliis instance ; for we had not been long seated in the chariot, before I began to entertain the thoughts of getting rid of my com- panion, and to consider in what manner this could be effected with the greatest facility. As for Isabel, I could perceive, that in spite of the unbecoming style of my dress, she yet retained a grateful recollection of my services. But notwithstanding the evident partiality of Isabel, and that persons of a less scrupulous con- science than myself would have improved their good fortune in possessing the confidence of 36 THE NEW GIL BLAS. SO charming a woman, I fully resolved upon separating from her ; — there was doubtless some cruelty in this determination, though I speedily succeeded in quieting my conscience by the reflection, that the great service I had already rendered her, exonerated me from any farther claims upon my good nature or gallantry ; yet, being of too benevolent a disposition to leave her destitute and unprotected, I arranged in my own mind, a plan, which should be at the same time just towards myself, and generous towards Isabel. As for Don Jose's gold, I looked upon it as fairly earned ; and it seemed to me also, that the jewels presented to me by Isabel were nothing more than a just recompense for her deliverance. Little did Isabel suspect what was passing in my mind. " Harkee," said I to the muleteer, taking him aside, as we were about to start from Vizcayna upon the last stage towards Xeres, and as the night was already beginning to fall, " perhaps thou hast no idea who this chariot has the honour to contain?" "How?" said he. " The person who no doubt appears to thee to be a young Caballero," I replied, "is in fact the betrothed of one of the greatest lords in all Andalusia, one too who will make the most indulgent of husbands." THE NEW GIL BLAS. 37 " Diablo," said the muleteer. " I liave been rascal enough," I continued, " to carry her away ; but my conscience smites me so grievously, that I am resolved to restore her to the arms of her lover, and thou shalt assist me in this design." " With all my heart," said the muleteer, " if I am to get any thing by it." "Thou shalt," said I; "this purse will pay thy expenses to Valenzuela, which lies at no great distance from Cordova; and when thou art there, the friends and the lover of the lady will doubtless make thee rich for life." " God grant it may prove so !" said the mule- teer. " When we approach Xeres," continued I, " make a circuit and return by the road thou hast come ; the senorata will no doubt be asleep, and I will contrive to descend from the chariot, and make my own way." " Leave the affair to me," said the muleteer, mth that significant nod which sufficiently showed his perfect apprehension of my meaning. My design was executed with perfect success : " Arre Colonel,"* and away trotted the mules. * There is always a mule called Colonel, or Captain, to which the muleteer addresses himself, prefixing the word arre, which is used by all muleteers and waggoners, to make the animals go. 38 THE NEW GIL BLAS. Worn out with tlie events and exertions of the preceding day, Isabel soon dropped asleep, and as lier head sunk on my shoulder I almost re- pented of my resolution ; but considering, that at so early an age, and but just entering upon the world, a companion could not be otherwise than an inconvenience, and consoled moreover by the reflection, that in inventing a story, and separating myself from Isabel, I best consulted her own happiness, I gently raised her head from its resting place, and waited the moment of separation; at length I was sensible of a retrograde movement, and that now v/as the time. Isabel still slept : " buenas noclies," said I, and vaulting from behind the chariot, I stood alone upon the road, while the sound of the wheels gradually lessened, as I walked smartly forward. "A fig for love," said I; "have I not fifty ounces in my pocket !" CHAPTER VI. 1 AM REQUIRED TO ASSIST THE REVENUES OF THE CHURCH AT THE EXPENSE OF A DUTIFUL NIECE; BUT EXTRICATE MYSELF FROM THE DIFFICULTY, NEW PROSPECTS OPEN AROUND ME, BUT CLOSE AGAIN. When I reflect upon my past life, I cannot recall many moments more consolatory than that, when as I stood alone, near the entrance to the city of Xeres, I exclaimed, "a fig for love, have I not fifty ounces in my pocket !" It was indeed a most natural exclamation ; to be my own master, and master of so much money at the same time, was a conjunction from which I naturally drew ,the happiest auspices. I had never before known freedom ; for no one can be called free, who lacks the means of doing as he pleases, nor can one be truly his own master, so long as another is by, to ask why this is done, or that thing is not done. To feel perfect liberty, one must be alone. When I entered Xeres, aU was darkness, except the lamps that here and there burned 40 THE NEW GIL BLAS. before the image of some favourite saint. The shops were all closed, the streets were deserted, and in short every one was in bed. I was a stranger to the town; and clothed in the splendid habiliments from the wardrobe of Andrades, with my pockets full of gold, and knowing be- sides the bad reputation of the neighbourhood, I wished myself fairly under shelter. Gazing about in every direction, I at length espied a faint glimmering from a low window ; and ap- proaching, I perceived it to proceed from a handsome house, in which, as I paused at the door, I distinctly heard low moanings, as if from a dying person. Heartily tired of walking up and down the streets, I ventured to knock ; and without any prefatory interrogations, the door was immediately opened by a priest, who addressed me thus, " you are welcome, and I trust may yet be in time to be the instrument in the hand of God, of accomplishing a pious deed," and without saying more, he ushered me into a chamber, where on a bed, lay a man seem- ingly in the agonies of death ; and standing by was a female in deshabille^ who had numbered perhaps thirty summers, and who, instantly turn- ing towards me, said, "it is a most unjust thing, Mr. Notary: here have I, ever since I was a child, been attending upon my sick uncle ; and now, the priest who has sent for you, has pre- THE NEW GIL BLAS. 41 vailed upon the dying man to make a new will, leaving every real to the chiu-ch." " Father," said I, addressing the priest, " hea- ven forbid that I should interfere with the claims of the church, and if this dying man cannot be admitted into heaven unless by making the church his heir, I am ready to do as I am di- rected." " Seiior," said the priest, " I cannot else pro- mise him an immediate entrance into Paradise." " But," said I, willing to discover whether the piety of the priest would tolerate the claim of justice, "would it not be best to divide the inheritance? holy prayers as yours would speedily release his soul from purgatory." " Ah ! my son," returned the priest, " twenty such inheritances are well bestowed in gaining but a single day from purgatory. As for the niece of this dying man, our convents are chari- table, and will see to her. Pray Mr. Notary delay not the execution of this business; beware how you incur the sin of letting this soul escape unprepared, — for I cannot take upon me to ad- minister the last rite, until this thing be done." From the first, I had determined it should not be my fault, if the mistake into wliich the priest had fallen, did not turn to the advantage of the old man's niece. And now, beginning to perceive the advantage I might myself reap 42 THE NEW GIL BLAS. from preserving the order of inheritance, I strained my wits to the uttermost, to find some means of instantly settling the matter, as I every moment feared the arrival of the true notary, who might not perhaps prove so scrupulous. There seemed in short, to be no remedy but boldness and expedition. " Sir," said I, in reply to the priest, " I cannot help thinking, that the best service one can render to heaven, is to do justice upon earth; and to help others also, to the exercise of this virtue. This good blade," said I, throwing aside my cloak, and displaying the sabre which had so lately stood my friend, " is a marvellous ready executioner of justice ; it is but a few hours ago, that to secure justice to one woman, it made an exit for a soul far less pre- pared than yours no doubt is for eternity, and here seems to be another woman who stands in equal need of its assistance." " Jesus Maria," said the priest, " holy mother of God, save us ! this is no notary, but a bri- gand ;" and before the words were well out of his mouth, I perceived the skirt of his cassock disappear at the door, and I was left undisputed master of the field. " And are not you a notary then ?" said the lady, with an expression of mingled fear and surprise. "Charming senorita," said I, "you have THE NEW GIL BLAS. 43 reason to be thankful that I am no notary, for had I been one of that honest fraternity, your inheritance would, ere long, have been spent in masses ; but neither am I a brigand ; the dress I wear has the effect of making me seem older than I am, but if you will look at me more nar- ro\vly, you will perceive that I am too young to be suspected of having already entered upon such lawless courses." " ^^^latever you are," said she, " you have rendered me an essential service ; and you have only to teU me, in what manner I am to repay it." I had just begun to consider what reply I should make to this question, upon which, as it seemed to me, not a little depended, — ^when a feeble voice from the couch of the dying man said, " let the holy man approach, and administer the last rite, for I am dying." " Ah !" said his niece, in a tone of self re- proach, '• I would rather have lost my inheritance, than that my poor uncle should die unshriven. I will yet go and bring back the priest." " 'T is of no use," said I, " he is already in paradise ;" and in truth it was with the very last breath he drew, that he announced his own de- parture. This was most seasonable, for scarcely had he ceased to breathe, when the quick noise of footsteps approaching the house, signified the 44 THE NEW GIL BLAS. arrival of the true notary, wlio finding that his services were not required, retraced his steps with some diminution in their celerity and willingness. " 'Tis singular enough," said I, "that in the short space of twenty-four hours, I should have had it in my power to avenge one woman of a bad husband, and to deliver another, the most charm- ing of her sex, from a conspiracy to defraud her ; but," continued I, anxious to proceed upon sure grounds, " perhaps I overrate this latter service ; perhaps the inheritance bequeathed, is scarcely so great, as to entitle me to feel gratified in having secured it to you ?" "Pardon me," replied my companion, "'tis not less than a million of reals." " Ah," interrupted I, " would that it had been as many pieces of eight ! For my own part, I am so accustomed to large sums, that you must pardon me if I speak too slightingly of the inheritance I have had the good fortune to secure to you:" and while I thus expressed myself, I could perceive that she whom I addressed, glanced at my habiliments, whose rich em- broidery and costly materials at once pronounced me 10 be a Caballero of no small consideration ; while I, at the same time adding in a careless tone that the weight of my pmse incommoded me, emptied my pockets of their gold, and THE NEW GIL BLAS. 45 placed it upon the table. The million of reals were not unworthy of my consideration; and to become possessed of so pretty a fortune, I almost felt willing to make some sacrifice. I ' had already dazzled the eyes, and perhaps the imagination of the heiress, and it now only re- mained to make an impression upon her heart, — a task which seemed to me no difficult matter, elated as I was with such recent success. It was only now for the first time, whilst the dutiful and attentive heiress was occupied in performing some of those last offices which the dead require at the hands of the living, and while she prayed for the repose of the soul that had so opportunely taken its flight, that I had an opportunity of examining the figure and countenance of her in whose behalf I had ex- erted myself, and to whose reals I had begun to form some pretensions. I had at first guessed her to be verging upon thirty, but I now per- ceived, that five or six years might be added. Her figure, unlike that of her countrywomen, was tall, thin, and ill-proportioned. I missed the rounded arm, the well-turned neck, and charming foot of Isabel ; and here, where the shade of tresses was needed, tresses there were none : a small compressed mouth, that seemed accustomed to silence, — eyes that had acquired an expression of watchfulness, — and a sharp nose 46 THE NEW GIL BLAS. that harmonized well with the contour of both figure and countenance, completed the portrait of this dutiful person ; and as I looked at her, I could not help feeling some distrust of my powers, as well as some hesitation in my pur- pose. But the former were perhaps spared a discomfiture, and the latter a disappointment, by the circumstance immediately to be related. It must be recollected, that it was now the dead of night, or, at least, not more than one hour after midnight; and that, therefore, so prudent a person as this senorita of thirty-six summers, could not but feel the impropriety of being thus tite-a-tete with a Caballero, who had just given so convincing a proof of the boldness of his character : she therefore, in as delicate a manner as possible, and repeating her acknow- ledgments in the handsomest terms, spoke of the necessity of preserving reputation from the breath of scandal ; " for if, " continued she, " by any imprudence I should give birth to " " Ah, Seiiora ! " interrupted I, " I am inca- pable of so much baseness." But imagination had erred in finishing the sentence : the lady blushed, looked ofiended, and gravely explained; it was the birth of calumny, of which she spoke; and I could perceive that she considered my services partly cancelled, by my injurious inter- pretation of her meaning: and at this moment THE NEW GIL BLAS. 47 the frigidity of her looks, contrasted with the recollection of Isabel, and assisted too by a consciousness of my own merits, produced an instant change of purpose; so, cramming my gold again into my pockets, and saying, I should have the honour of waiting upon her at a more seasonable hour, I left the heiress to her inherit- ance, and the dead man to her prayers, and making the best of my way through the streets to the outskirts of the town, I took the first road that presented itself. CHAPTER VII. I ENGAGE A MAN OF THE WORLD ' IN MY SERVICE A3 TUTOR, AND STUDY MANKIND; BUT BEFORE MY STU- DIES ARE COMPLETED, I AM DEPRIVED OF THE LES- SONS OF MY PRECEPTOR, WHO IS AT THE SAME TIME DEPRIVED OF HIS HEAD. At the first town I reached after day-break, which, if I remember rightly, was San Lucar, I judged it advisable to change Don Jose's habili- ments for others more suitable to me ; and here, learning by accident, that two travellers were on the eve of setting out for Cadiz, and were desirous of finding a companion, the road being infested by robbers, it was agreed that we should travel together in a chariot, which we hired for the purpose. We were quickly upon intimate terms; and before reaching Puerto de Santa Maria, every one was in possession of such a history of his travelling companions as each chose to communicate. I had represented myself as a young Cabal- lero from the province of Estremadura, of great THE NEW GIL BLAS. 49 expectations, and on my way to Cadiz for the purpose of completing my education. My father, I said, had engaged a tutor to take care of me ; but having quarrelled with him at Seville, I had sent him about his business; and was re- solved, when I arrived at Cadiz, to make choice of a tutor myself; and this story was tolerably well borne out by the quantity of money I la^dshed in all directions. As for my com- panions, — one was a bachelor of arts, a Spaniard by birth, but who had studied at the University of Paris ; middle-aged, a man of the world like myself, a lover of pleasure, and who, from what I could gather, lived partly upon his money, partly upon his wits. The other — the son of a wine grower, on his way to Cadiz, to open an establishment for the export of his father's wines — had accidentally joined company with his companion. It soon became evident, from the conversation of the bachelor of arts, that he aspired to the honour of holding the situation I had spoken of as vacant, — that of directing my studies, and perhaps of partaking my plea- sures at the same time, and at my expense ; an expectation in which I indirectly permitted him to indulge, for reasons that will appear hereafter. "This man," said I to myself, "has lived long in the world, he has doubled my years, and I have no doubt is a rascal at bottom. A man VOL. I. D 50 THE NEW GIL BLAS. cannot live mainly upon liis wits during twenty years without learning much, and I cannot do better than spend some of my pesetas in acquir- ing that knowledge of the world, which may teach me the secret of elbowing my way through it. It is true, indeed, that experience might teach me, as it has taught others; but some hundred dollars are an easier price than, per- haps, some years of disappointment : it is true also, that I have hitherto been favoured by for- tune, as this good purse will testify ; but then, it is not every day one can hope to meet with an Andrades for a master — still less expect to cut short a service in so agreeable a manner. " In fact, such was my confidence in my compa- nion's knowledge of mankind, and in his ability to direct me, that I already all but promoted him to the office that was in my gift ; and such was the sprightliness of his remarks, as well as the extent of his information, that before we had travelled together a single day, I felt that it would be a real misfortune to part company. "I was sent into the world," said he, one day to me, " without a peseta, and yet I have never known the want of one. " And who, thought I to myself, would not part with a thousand to possess the secret of never being without one ! At another time, as we journeyed along, my tutor-elect observed to me, that he had served THE NEW GIL BLAS. 51 as long and as difficult an apprenticeship to pleasure as to learning; " because, " continued he, " I had no instructor in it ; but pleasure needs no apprenticeship : to learning we must ascend, as we climb the mountain — step by step ; but pleasure lies below, and we have only to dart upon it, as the eagle pounces upon his prey: the greatest, as well as the least enjoy- ments, lie equally within our grasp ; and all that is needed, is a finger to point to them." The same evening, having crossed the bay, we arrived in Cadiz, — the emporium of plea- sure, the citadel of luxury, the elysium of Spain ; where the skies are always serene, and the wine always abundant; and where the beauty and grace of the ladies, are only equalled by their affability. I immediately hired handsome apart- ments in the Plaza de San Antonio, — and having installed Don Fernando, as he was pleased to call himself, in his office of preceptor, I an- nounced to him my intention of devoting the first three months of my residence in Cadiz entirely to pleasure; — a resolution which I lost no time in putting into practice. The very first day of our arrival, and while transferring to my plate a part of an inimitable stew, my com- panion took the opportunity of illustrating the advantage there is, in having a preceptor in pleasure as well as in learning. " Here, " said d2 U. OF ILL LIB. 52 THE NEW GIL BLAS. he, " is a choice of twenty dishes, not one of which perhaps ever crossed your lips ; in how many wry faces, and nauseous morsels must your apprenticeship to good eating have con- sisted, before you had acquired that discrimi- nating knowledge which enables me at once to guide you to the choicest morsels ? It is the same in all other pleasures." Scarcely, how- ever, had I begun to appreciate the value of my preceptor's instructions, ere I was deprived of them, in a manner as tragical as it was unex- pected. I had remarked that Don Fernando generally made choice of the by-ways, and that he also preferred the dusk to the broad day; and when upon one occasion I spoke to him of this peculiarity, he replied, that plea- sures were more enjoyed, if come at stealthily ; and that seeking them by by-ways, and in dusk, surrounded them with a certain secresy, that in his opinion, added a considerable zest. This answer seeming quite in accordance with my preceptor's character, I gave him credit for his excellent intention ; and satisfied with his rea- sons, consented to be led by him every day, through the most obscure streets, and in the dusk of the evening, — convinced that he had only in view my greater gratification. After having remained in the metropolis of pleasure three weeks, during M^hich period I 1?HE NEW GIL BLAS. 53 partook to excess of every enjoyment it affords, I found that my yet tender years were incapable of altogether withstanding the inroads which dissipation makes upon health, — and with the view of repairing the injury I had sustained, I resolved upon retiring a few leagues into the country, giving my preceptor the choice of ac- companying me, or of remaining to take charge of my establishment ; and he, having chosen the latter, I had leisure to reflect alone, upon how far my expectations of my preceptor had been fulfilled. In the pursuit of pleasure, he had indeed shown himself no novice, and on that score I was his debtor; but although I had been initiated into the mysteries of spending my pesetas, I could not perceive that I made any progress in the art of acquiring them; — and for all that I had seen of my worthy tutor, it ap- peared to me, that if he was sent into the world without a peseta, and had notwithstanding never known the want of one, as he said, he must assuredly be an alchemist, — so excellent was his knowledge in the art of spending. But the taste I had acquired for pleasure, abridged the term of my self-denial, and I hastened to return to my lessons. It was on the evening of the tenth day since my departure, that I again knocked at the gate of the house where I had hired my apartments. 54 THE NEW GIL BLAS. " What ! " said the porter, when he opened the gate, and saw me about to enter, " and so you have the assurance to return? I promise you I'll have no more rogues here: 'tis enough, I think, to have one man hanged from my house. Go about your business, and escape as fast as you can. I take it your neck is in nearly as much danger as Don Fernando 's !" All this was an enigma. — " Rogues about your house ! one man hanged ! — how ! what is the meaning of all this?" said I. " I have only this moment returned to Cadiz, and know nothing of all that you are telling me : open the gate wider, I say, and let me pass to my apartment." But it was instantly closed upon me; and through the small opening from which the shutter was sHd back,* I continued to plead my privilege and my ignorance. "'Tis of no use denying it," said the porter, interrupting me : " were you not his companion for three weeks?" " You have not told me," returned I, " what it is I have to deny: if you have any cause of complaint against Don Fernando, v/hat is that to me? If he has committed any roguery, and if I were concerned in it, is it likely that I would come here in broad daylight ? " * In many houses there is a small opening in the door with a sliding shutter, — a sort of obsei-vation hole. THE NEW GIL BLAS. ' This argument seemed to have some weight. "Tell me at once," said I, "what is the matter." " Matter enough, truly; your companion is to be hanged to-morrow morning ; — why," said he, perceiving by the expression of my face, that I was really ignorant of the matter, " your pre- ceptor, as you used to call him, is the most noted felon in all Spain; he has personated half the dignitaries in the kingdom, — the archbishop of Seville among the rest; and some say, even the king himself." " But," said I, interrupting him, " although Don Fernando is to be hanged to-morrow, that does not deprive me of the right of going to my own apartment, and claiming all that 1 left in it." " 'T is as bare," said he, " as . " But my money — my jewels — my chest !" "You'll find money or jewels as scarce there as in the street; he swept all clean the same night you left him." The porter, however, satisfied my curiosity; and I found all as he described. I now directed my steps to the prison, where, if I should not succeed in recovering my gold, I was at least sure of the satisfaction of upbraiding my preceptor with his villany. "No upbraidings," said Don Fernando, as I entered his cell ; "I have deceived many greater men than you, and robbed many poorer." 56 THE NEW GIL BLAS. " My unhappy friend ! " said I (for just as he had finished the sentence, my eye chanced to rest upon his neck), " 't is truly a lamentable condition in which I find you." " As for that," returned he, with a shrug, " it is very true that it could not have happened at a more inconvenient time, having just taken pos- session of your well-stored purse : 't was indeed a piece of singular bad fortune; but since the affair is ended, give me the favour of your company to-morrow at the last scene of the drama,and you shall see how admirably I will perform my part.'* From these words of my friend, lamenting that he was deprived the pleasure of spending my gold, I naturally enough believed that I should recover it ; and I begged of him to have the goodness to indulge me with its restitution. " I have not a peseta in the world," said he ; " not one of your pieces is left : my pockets were loaded with them: I was recognized, and pursued. I reached the rampart, and sprung into the sea, in hopes of gaining a vessel which was then under weigh for the Levant ; but the weight of your gold incommoded me, and I con- trived to drop it into the sea, — and yet, as you perceive, this availed me nothing. I feel grieved that the gold should have perished, for as to- morrow will deprive me of the power of spending, I should have had much pleasure in restoring it to you, but for this unlucky accident." THE NEW GIL BLAS, 57 I thanked my preceptor for his good inten- tions, and took leave of him. " I trust," said he, as I reached the door, " we shall meet in the other world ; but stay, I had nigh forgotten : this" — putting a roll of paper into my hand — " is worth more to you than the gold I have deprived you of; 't is a record of my life :" — and I, taking possession of this equivalent, and without any farther observation, left my pre- ceptor to his meditations. " Consummate rogue," said I to myself, as I made my way to the street ; " he has beggared me :" and I walked onward in no very agreeable mood, while every now and then the rich steam of savoury viands, issuing from the posadas and cook-shops, reminded me of what I stood in need of, and of my inability to procure it : but recollecting how many of my pesetas had been exchanged for these delicacies, I boldly entered one of the houses in which I was the best known, resolved to eat a stew upon credit ; but I speedily discovered how small was the know- ledge of mankind I had imbibed from the lessons of my preceptor. No one was willing to trust a man whose friend was to be hanged next day. This was the first moment since leaving Pena- flor, that I might have wished myself again in my native town; but fortune, even in this ex- D 3 58 THE NEW GIL BLAS. tremity, was preparing a diversion in my favour. Occupied with the many reflections to which my present situation gave rise, I wandered as far as the Alameda; and throwing myself upon one of the benches in front of the sea, 1 fell asleep. It was a wild and varied vision that visited me : the events of the last few weeks passed in succession before me. I was in Don Jose's hall, again gazing upon Isabel, and stepping over her dead husband : I was riding by her side beneath the star-light; laughing, as the day dawned upon her grotesque habiliments, — sitting in the chariot with her, and listening to the departing soimd of carriage wheels. I was groping my way through the streets of Xeres, — communing with the priest in the dying chamber; and making my bow to the dead man's niece. I was hurry- ing tlu'ough the obscure streets of Cadiz with my preceptor, — eating of choice dishes, listening to enchanting strains, and receiving the cup from the hands of charming women, who seemed all to resemble Isabel; — and then, I was hurried along by a great and motley crowd, who thronged round a platform, upon which stood a gallows- tree ; and I saw my preceptor run gaily up the ladder, and nod to me familiarly ; and instead of being hanged, some one swept oif his head with a huge sabre, and his head rolled to my feet ; and upon looking down, I saw that it was not my preceptor's head, but Don Jose's. CHAPTER VIII. I FIND A PATRONESS, AND AM PROMOTED TO AN OFFICE OF GREAT RESPONSIBILITY. When I awoke, it was dusk, and a lady, at- tended by a female servant, stood before me. No sooner did I open my eyes than the former addressed me in these words. " Sefior, I was myself about to rouse you: passing this M^ay towards my own hoiise, I observed you asleep, and knowing it to be dangerous to fall asleep in this place, when the wind is from the north, I would have taken the freedom of awaking you." "Alas! Madam," I replied, as the conscious- ness of my desolate condition rose to my recol- lection, " I can scarcely with sincerity return you thanks for your kindness : there is nothing awaiting me that should lead me to covet the moment of awaking ; unless indeed, that I might look upon such charms as yours." The lady, without noticing the compliment except by a slight smile, said, " you do not look w 60 THE NEW GIL BLAS. like one who might have cause to dislike the world ; but if you be an unfortunate, follow me, and you shall by and by relate to me, what it is you have to complain of." The lady whom I now followed to the eastern extremity of the Alameda, might be seven or eight and twenty, — ^her features were expressive, her figure well turned, and graceful; and both in her gait and dress, as well as in the manner in which she held her mantilla, and disposed of her fan, there was a certain elegance, that be- spoke her a person of consideration : the fading light did not then permit me to distinguish her complexion, or the minuter traits of her coun- tenance. " This adventure," said I to myself, as I followed the lady and her maid along the ramparts, "may possibly be turned to advantage." I was not indeed greatly skilled in the ways of woman ; but the smile that followed my com- pliment to the lady's charms, had not escaped me, — and by it, I resolved to shape my line of conduct. We stopped at the gate of a magnificent house at the east corner of the Alameda, near the palace — that quarter inhabited chiefly by persons of consideration ; and the lady, desiring her maid to conduct me to the sala, said, she would herself follow presently. In a few minutes she entered, divested of her outer habiliments. THE NEW GIL BLAS. 61 and even of her mantilla ; and I then perceived, by the light of the numerous wax candles which illuminated the apartment, that she was unique in all her charms : her complexion was of that clear, transparent, though darkish hue, that can- not be emulated by the canvass or the marble, but which belongs exclusively to the breathing form ;* her eyes were full of lustre — but of that dazzling, and ever-changing lustre, that scarcely permits the determination of any precise colour; and her hair, of a deep glossy brown, fell in seductive tresses almost to her shoulder. With- out allowing me time to express my acknowledg- ments for her condescension, she motioned me to be seated, and requested me to inform her frankly, what my present condition was, and whar were the circumstances that had led me into it. Upon which, believing that the prowess I had shown in rendering some little services to her sex, could not fail to create a favourable impression upon her mind, I related to her all my adventures from the day I left Penaflor, — taking care, however, to make no mention of any thing that might be construed to my preju- dice ; such as, that I had any personal interest in ridding the world of Andrades, or that I had * An exception might perhaps be made in favour of Murillo. 62 THE NEW GIL BLAS. appropriated Isabel's jewels to myself, or had done otherwise than restored her at once to her parents; or that, in the essential service I ren- dered to the heiress of Xeres, I had been at first actuated by interested motives, — and also passing lightly over my intimacy with my unfortimate preceptor: so that in the history which I gave of myself, I appeared as the bravest, and most disinterested of mortals, with only those few foibles, and guilty of only those peccadillos, that are inseparable from the character and conduct of an ardent and high-spirited youth. When I had made an end of my relation, the lady was so obliging as to say, that for the services I had rendered to some of her sex, I had a right to the good offices of all; at the same time she com- mended my courage, and disinterestedness, and lamented my recent misfortune. " Now," said she, with the most engaging smile in the world, " listen to what I have to propose. I am pleased with the frankness of your character, and have long been in search of a person possessing that quality. Can you promise me sincerity, in the performance of whatever duty you may under-, take?" " Seiiora," I replied, " if there be any quality of my mind predominating over the others, it is sincerity, — for this, I have always been distin- guished, and for its exercise, have sometimes suifered." THE NEW GIL BLAS. bb " Be assured," said she, " that in my service you shall meet with no such injustice : I believe in your profession, so now listen to what I am going to say. There is one passion, which I possess in common with all my sex ; but, I be- lieve, in a more exorbitant degree, — it is, love of admiration." " Ah, senora," interrupted I, " would that all our desires were as reasonable, and as sure of being gratified ! " " 1 perceive," said she, " that you already begin to administer to this passion ; let me then hasten to tell you, that in the duty I design for you, it must be forgotten. I know, that years have already wrought some alteration in my looks, and that the perfect freshness of youth is gone — do not interrupt me, this I say I know, but I would that no other than myself should perceive it. As yet indeed, time may not perhaps have wholly obliterated the traces of what I have been ; but the hour will infallibly come, when the passion upon whose gratification I live, cannot any longer be ministered to ; that hour, I am determined never to survive. I could not bear to see the influence I have wielded, wane ; and it is accordingly this humiliation I am desirous of being spared. In this city, where politeness is carried far into the dominion of falsehood, a woman who has once had her 64 THE NEW GIL BLAS. empire, and who still retains her rank, finds nothing so hard to be come at, as truth; — will you then accept the easy task of being sincere ? into your hands, I am ready to confide that reputa- tion which I have so long enjoyed, and which I so fondly prize. Let it be your duty to warn me of the approach of that day when I may find that I have outlived the reputation I believe — perhaps foolishly believe — I still enjoy. Your service will be easy of performance : every night I go into society, or have my tertulia at home ; and all I require of you is, that before I hazard my reputation in public, you shall say, whether I dare stand the test. This is what I have to propose to you; tell me if you are willing to enter my service upon this condition, — your time shall be entirely at your own disposal, with the reservation of the few moments every evening required for the performance of your duty ; you shall also have a liberal allowance, and be well provided for in my house." This was a proposal which no one in my circumstances could reject. My whole duty consisted in scrutinizing the figure and coun- tenance of a beautiful woman ; and as to the condition of sincerity, upon which my services were accepted, it seemed to me, as far as I could yet judge, that I might speak the truth, and yet keep in favour. I therefore hastened THE NEW GIL BLAS. 65 to express my willingness to enter ii>to the service of so charming a lady, and to profess my entire concurrence in the condition required of me. Behold me then installed in my new office of censor of a lady's looks ! — a post certainly in some degree derogatory to the dignity of one who, within a few days, had figured among the gayest Caballeros in Cadiz. Still, my preferment had its advantages : it had ease and plenty ; and when the charms, of whose reputation I was the guardian, could no longer maintain their empire in the world, who could tell, if their depreciated value might not then be about an equivalent (with other more substantial adjuncts thrown into the scale) for the faithful performance of my services. The very first evening upon which I was installed in my office, I also entered upon its duties; and I found them, as I had anticipated, not only easy, but agreeable. Shortly after the interview I have detailed, the Marquesa retired to her toilet ; and after a reasonable time had elapsed in the performance of its duties, I was called to pronounce my verdict. Mine was truly an occupation that thousands might have coveted ; and I prolonged my scrutiny so long, that the object of it began to manifest some impatience. " Seiiora," said I, " sincerity in my judgment, was the only condition you re- quired of me; and where the admiration of all 66 THE NEW GIL BLAS. mankind is due, mine is surely to be excused." This was my manner of delivering my judgment, and the Marquesa seemed not to be displeased with it. " Thou art indeed a lucky rogue," said I to myself, as shortly after the Marquesa was gone, a smoking stew, and a bottle of Paxarete, were placed before me. " This is vastly better than being hanged. Alas, my poor preceptor ! rascal as he was, I wish he were here to enjoy a morsel Mdth me. The Marquesa is certainly a charm- ing woman ; but whether she be entitled to the undisputed empire of beauty, is another affair. She has not the freshness of Isabel ; but her charms are more seductive; as for sincerity — a fig for sincerity ! — I know my own affairs. Here is an excellent soup, a good stew, and Paxerete fit for the Pope, and the Marquesa is undeniably the most charming woman in Cadiz. Again my mind reverted to my preceptor, and his misfortune ; and I now for the first time, recollected the roll of paper which I had taken from his hand. I drew it from my bosom, where I had deposited it : and having now satis- fied my appetite, and re-filled my goblet, I unfolded the paper, with some curiosity to know the events of a life which had terminated as I imagined so little to the satisfaction of its pos- sessor, and commenced reading the narrative which will be found in the next chapter. CHAPTER IX. CONTAINING THE STORY OF DON FERNANDO DE RUBIO, FROM WHICH IT WILL BE SEEN THAT AUGURIES WORK THEIR OWN ACCOMPLISHMENT. " It would doubtless be a pity, that the know- ledge which I have obtained of the world and mankind, should perish with me : it will be of no use to me to-morrow ; and I am resolved, there- fore, to let the world know that I have had fidl value from it, for the ill-natured trick which it is now about to play me. Know then, whoever reads this record of Don Fernando de Rubio, that I was born in the ancient and beautiful city of Valencia, just forty years ago; for among other singularities which my life will be found to offer, it is perhaps not the least remarkable, that the day upon which I was ushered into the world will be also the day upon which I shall kick myself free of it. I use this expression, because having seen several of my friends quit the world in the same way in which I am likely to do, 68 THE NEW GIL BLAS. it has always appeared to me a contemptuous, and tlierefore an agreeable manner of parting with it. " I could tell many stories of my infancy, and might even go as far back as the day of my birth ; but I will content myself with relating, that my destinies in life were altered by the mark of a ring, which appeared upon my neck; and when my mother presented me to my father, and pointed out this singularity, so prophetic did he consider it, that, although he had destined me for the church, and a rich canon had promised me his protection, he resolved to breed me to some other profession, that the sanctity of the holy Catholic church, at least, should not suffer by any disgrace that might overtake me. Had this unlucky mark not been at all, or had it appeared upon any other place than upon my neck, — had my mother been less officious, — or my father less a believer in auguries, — I might this day have been as far from the day of my death, as I am from the hour of my birth : but prophecies often affect their own fulfilment; and my life and death, perhaps, afford some proof of this. " ' He will certainly be hanged,' said my father, half a dozen times in the day : ' Ah, my poor Fernando,' said my mother, upon these occasions, taking me between her knees, and anxiously examining my neck, to see if the ring THE NEW GIL BLAS. 69 were as visible as ever, ' what can we do to save tliee from the misfortune with which thou art threatened?' My father would then shake his head, as if to say, ' God's will be done;' and I was left to the couAiction that I must cer- tainly be hanged. " But by and by, and as I became older, the wlien, became a subject of inquiry : the augury said nothing upon this head. It was only the manner, then, not the time of my death, that was a settled affair. I was yet scarcely more tlian a child, in years, but I was almost a man in thought. The prediction, a belief in which had at that time sunk into my mind, had pro- duced a wonderful effect upon my character, and habit of thinking ; and I was already indeed a philosopher, in my owti way. " WTien I was first old enough to understand the meaning of the augury that concerned me, I cried like any other child who looks for a chas- tisement : this fear, however, slowly wore away ; and gradually my destiny became, with me, rather a matter of curiosity and contemplation than of dread. I eagerly perused whatever books contained any information upon the subject that interested me; particularly the lives of noted pirates and robbers, and of all who had ended their days upon a gallows. But these, although they made me well acquainted with the actions 70 THE NEW GIL BLAS. that usually terminate on a scaffold, afforded me no information respecting the termination itself. I grappled closer with the object of my curio- sity; I particularly cultivated the acquaintance of Querubim de Berbedel, the city hangman; and perhaps I may say truly, that the most inte- resting hours I have ever spent, were those in the house of Querubim, in the Calle de los Angeles, when, over a puchero, which I sent for from a neighbouring copkshop, Querubim used to enter- tain me with sundry stories of the last scene in the lives of those who had been entrusted to his care. " ' Ah, my young friend,' he would say, with an odd expression of drollery and regret, in which, however, the latter predominated, ' I fear j^ou will fall at last into other hands than mine.' " ' It may be so, Querubim,' I would answer ; ' but depend upon it, I shall never forget your excellent lessons.' • " ' The more sorry am I,' he would reply, ' that another than me, should reap the credit of them.' " ' At another time Querubim would say, ' Ah, master Fernando, if you saw as much of death as I do, you would never be sufficiently grateful for the prospect before you ; I generally hasten out of my house with a torch when I hear the little bell, and accompany the priest to the dying THE NEW GIL BLAS. 71 eliamber — by which pious act I sometimes earn a real, — and when I see the tugs one has with death, and the long struggles of a death bed, I never can help thinking to myself, that they are best off, who receive a helping hand from me; it is no sooner begun than ended, — and there is always a good Franciscan by, just to whisper a word to St. Peter.' And in good truth, the discourse of the worthy Querubim received a strong confirmation, and sunk the deeper into my mind, from the death of my father, whose illness was of that kind that often led me to bless the augury, that ensured to me a less lingering, and less painful end. " I was now verging upon manhood ; and the reflections that had been, up to this time, ha- bitual to me, and the reading and conversation in which I had indulged, had laid the founda- tion of a system of action that sprung out of the peculiar circumstances in which I was placed. My principle was two-fold: first, to be before- hand with my revenge upon the world — which was one day to have its turn — by making the most of my time in it ; and, secondly, to exer- cise my dexterity, in making that time as long as possible. " When my father died, my mother retired into a convent, and I was left with but a few pesetas in the world, and mth a code of philoso- 72 THE NEW GIL BLAS. pliy difficult to practise without them. All the world knows that in Valencia, a dinner may always be had for the asking; and until some change for the better should take place in my affairs, I did not fail to go every day to the Convento de la Santisima Trinidad, to partake of the hospitality of the friars. It so happened, that in this convent there was an image of a certain saint, an object of great devotion to the people of Valencia, on account of the many miracles said to have been performed by it ; and it was the custom, that upon one day in the year this image should be exhibited to the devout of that city, upon which occasion, certain miracles were most commonly expected of the saint. Now whether it was, that the friars found a resemblance between my countenance and that of their saint, or, what is more probable, dis- covered, notwithstanding my genuflexions, and other externals of devotion, that poverty, rather than devotion led me to the convent, they fixed upon me as the instrument of a pious fraud. " ' Thy name I think is Fernando,' said one of the friars to me one day, leading me into the cloisters, as I was passing out from dinner. " ' Fernando is my name,' said I, ' and my name is all my inheritance.' " ' Thou art poor, no doubt,' rejoined he; ' but I design that thou slialt soon be richer, if thou wilt consent to obey my instructions.' THE NEW GIL BLAS. 73 *' ' No one,' said I, ' can be readier to obey instructions that are to produce so agreeable a result;' and the friar then explained to me, how that the finances of the convent were miserably low, — that a new organ for the chapel, and many ornaments for the major altar were wanted ; and that on the occasion of the approaching festival, when it was always the custom for the devout to lay some little offering upon the altar of the saint, it was intended to warm devotion by some strik- ing display of the saint's gratitude ; and, finally, I was made to understand, that if I would con- sent to personate the saint, by wearing his gar- ments and crown — to hold a silver salver in my hand, to receive the offerings; and to bow my head, whenever the donation exceeded a duro, I should be rewarded with a thousand reals — but upon condition that I should immediately afterwards quit Valencia, and reside in some other town. " Nothing could be more agreeable to me than this proposal ; my devotion did not stand in the way of its acceptance, — for firmly believing in the augury that ensured to me timely prepara- tion, and the assistance of a holy man, in quit- ting the world, I resolved that all my pecca- dillos should be rubbed out at the same time; and as for the condition imposed upon me, of living elsewhere than in Valencia, I had already VOL. I. E 74 THE NEW GIL BLAS. resoh'ed upon quitting that city, and only lacked the means of carrying my design into effect ; for knowing that the prediction could not be accom- plished in France, where the office of my friend Querubim is performed in another fashion, I had determined upon leaving Spain for that country. " Upon the day appointed for the celebration of the festival, I was received by the Superior, whom I found to be the same individual who had formerly spoken with me, and who, with two or three others, was alone in the secret of the pious fraud in which I was to be an actor. ' By this,' said he, ' we confirm the wavering, and strengthen the faith of the true Catholic, and thus, the end justifies the means.' The habiliments of the saint were ample, and the image having been removed, I easily slipped into its place, divesting myself only of my cloak, and found room enough within the foldings of the cloth of gold that covered my tarnished dress: the crown was placed upon my head, a well- contrived mask upon my face, and a massive silver salver in my hand, which, somehow or other, seemed to grow to my fingers. Thu& prepared, the chapel railing was thrown open, and the matin bell began to chime. " And now the devout Valencians poured in ; and crowded into the chapel, where I stood beneath a siver-gilded canopy. The wants of THE NEW GIL BLAS. 75 the convent liad been industriously circulated by the friars : nor had less pains been taken to en- courage a belief, that some visible manifestation of the saint's good will and gratitude might be expected. The first that entered, were some beggars, with little more than their tattered brown cloaks to cover them; and a few quai-tos dropped upon the salver, — larger offerings suc- ceeded, — pesetas, half and whole duros, but no sign of gratitude or good will yet escaped from the saint. At length, a gold piece rung upon the salver, and forthwith the saint bent his head. The miracle was seen by all ; a thousand thumbs had in an instant performed the sign of the cross ; a thousand knees were bent ; a loud and earnest hum of prayer rose from a thousand kneelers; at the same instant, the organ pealed forth its loud anthem, and ' Glory to God, glory in the highest,' was the universal song of praise. But the miracle operated in a more substantial form ; the prediction of an influential saint was weU worth the sacrifice of a few duros — gold poured into the salver; and to such an extent, that not only was the saint's neck weary of acknowledgment, and his arm, of the weight with which devotion burdened it; but a new miracle became necessary; the salver was too small to contain its offerings, and the gold was beginning to slide off the heap: the saint, e2 76 THE NEW GIL BLAS. therefore, witltdrawing the salver, deposited the contents somewliere within the folds of his under jcrarments, and again extended the vessel to the awe-struck devotees. " The throng that had poured into the chape 1 ' at length began to lessen; and mass ha%ang begun at the major altar, all hastened to place themselves before it, so that the chapel of the miraculous image was left for a time without a worshipper. Now, thought I, is the moment, — slipping my arms out of the wide sleeves of the saint, I disentangled myself from the cumbrous garments, which were stiff enough to stand erect without the help either of an image or its repre- sentative ; the mask, I left propped in its place, and the salver also I would have left in the hand of the saint, had this been possible; but I was compelled to dispose of it otherwise; it fol- lowed its contents within my girdle ; and having stealthily descended from the canopy, I threw my old cloak, which I had laid behind it, over my shoulders, and drawing my hat over my brows, I walked leisurely out of the chapel, and through the church, and soon found myself in the Calle de Alboraya, and crossing the bridge of the Holy Trinity. What took place in the con- vent when mass was ended — at what time the discovery was made — or what steps were taken to trace the flight of the mock saint, I have no THE NEW GIL BLAS. 77 means of ascertaining, and never stopped to in- quire; but satisfied that I had practised a less fraud upon the friars, than they had practised upon the people, I continued my walk at no unusual pace, that I might avoid suspicion, along the avenue that leads to the port — engaged, like others, in leisurely cutting up a melon, and eating it by the way. " With plenty of gold in one's girdle, a help- ing hand is never far distant in the kingdom of Valencia. A Valencian pockets the gold, and asks no questions; and mass could hardly have been concluded in the convent of the most Holy Trinity, before a fine scampavia was carrying me away from the city of my nativity, and shaping her course for Barcellona. " While sitting on the half deck of the boat, watching the coast glide away, I could not but congratulate myself upon the issue of this enterprise, the first I had imdertaken. I was now free to practise my code of philosophy, as long at least, as a piece remained in my girdle. The sameness of the friars' daily puchero, had become wearisome ; and the monotony which moneyless pockets give to life, accorded ill with my felt capacities of enjoyment. Now however, 1 could fairly enter upon my plan of indemni- fication for the injury to be afterwards done me; and I might indeed be said to have already com- 78 THE NEW GIL BLAS. menced my revenge. The coasting voyage continued favourable ; and after having been obliged to put in at Oropesa, and at Venicario, for provisions and wine, I found myself on the fifth day, standing on the quay of Barcellona, the richest and most commercial city in Spain. Here, if any where, said I, as I walked up the Rambla, a man may spend his pesetas to his liking, and find means too, to fill his girdle-end with them when it lacks weight. The first part of this prophecy was easily accomplished ; here I served my first apprenticeship to pleasure; and notwithstanding the devotion of the good Valencians, my purse became perceptibly lighter. A man cannot be a philosopher after my fashion for nothing : pucheros even, are not to be had without quartos, until a man gains some ex- perience in the world, nor even Catalunian wine, without parting with a few reals ; and as for the favours of the fair, their smiles are not given as in Valencia, to a tight shape, sparkling eyes, and crisped locks, nor their ears won by a canto amoroso : fine clothes, and fine horses, cost more than a straight limb, a knowing eye, and soft words, — and jewels are more expensive than serenades; in short, one day I shook out my purse, and the last piece dropped on the ground. ' Carba de San Pedro,' said I, apostrophising my purse, ' I have had some pleasure out of thee, THE NEW GIL BLAS. 79 and be it now my care to see thee replenished.' The silver salver indeed, that had returned so pleasant a chink to the offerings of the Valen- cians, still remained ; but remembering the au- gury, I judged it wisest to take no advantage of it, so long as I remained in a country where it might find an owner, and where such persons as my friend Querubim find employment. " Sauntering in this frame of mind through the streets, I chanced to reach the gate of the Domi- nican convent, which is always open to those who desire to have their faith strengthened by examining the pictorial record of all the heretics who were burnt during the sixteenth and seven- teenth centuries, or by saying an ave at the altar of the saint, who sailed in the short space of six hours from Majorca to Barcellona, with only his cloak for a boat, — or above all, by kneeling before the shrine of the Virgin of St. Pilar, the most popular saint in Barcellona. It was to this latter altar that t directed my steps; nor was this the first time they had strayed in the same direction ; and notwithstanding the earnestness of my devotion on such occasions, I had not failed to remark the costly robes of this miracu- lous image ; and in particular the valuable rings with which her fingers were covered, one of which was the gift of no less considerable a per- son than the Pope. A Caballero with so ill- ;ji 80 THE NEW GIL BLAS. fumislied a purse as mine, might well ask so influential a saint as the Virgin of St. Pilar to fill it, and in short, so particular were my devo- tions, that the closing of the convent gates surprised me in the midst of them, I was not, as will be recollected, without experience in pious frauds; and the tapers that burned before the altar of the saint, displaying in the most enticing manner, the brilliancy of the Pope's diamond ring, and recollecting at the same time, the saying of the Superior of the convent of the Santisima Trinidad, that ' ends justify means,' it was not long before the gem sparkled upon my unsancti- fied finger, in place of on the Virgin's; and having concocted my plans, which, as will pre- sently appear, fully answered my expectations, I lay down under the altar, and was speedily asleep. " The Dominicans watch their treasures well; and scarcely had morning dawned when one of their number, prowling about the convent church before the doors were opened, discovered a devotee asleep in the chapel of the Virgin ; nor as I expected did the ring upon my finger escape his lynx eye. I was questioned, and seized ; but this being an offence of so great magnitude, that it concerned the corregidor of the city, as well as the superior of the convent, I was hurried at an early hour to the public hall, accompanied THE NEW GIL BLAS. 81 by the superior, and other friars belonging to the convent of Dominicans, and followed by a vast assemblage of devotees, who breathed execrations against the wretch who had profaned by sacrilegious theft, the altar of the Virgin of St. Pilar, one of the favourite saints of the catholic city Barcellona. Had my friend Querubim been at my elbow, or seen me led away to the hall of justice, followed by hootings and charged with sacrilege, he would doubtless have remembered his prediction, that I might after all his instructions, fall into other hands than his, and sorely would he have rued the ill fortune that deprived him of the satisfaction of performing the last offices to a friend. However, things were not gone so far ; and my wits were destined then, as upon some after occasions, to postpone the accomplishment of the augury. " The charge against me was clear, and my guilt, apparently, undeniable; found asleep in the chapel of the Virgin, with the diamond ring upon my finger, a ring identified by the supe- rior, and aU the friars — nay even by the devotees themselves, who had so often prostrated them- selves before her. Nothing else was expected by all present, than that I should be declared guilty of the sacrilege, and hurried off to judg- ment, condemnation, and execution: and such indeed was likely to be the issue, when I ex- E 3 -m^ 82 THE NEW GIL BLAS. claimed, ' Muy Reverende Padre, y, muyjusto Cor- regidor, — Condemn not a man unheard, — for in passing judgment upon my supposed sacrilege, you will be guilty of the far greater impiety of denying the miracle-working power of the Virgin of St. Pilar. Is not this saint the boast of your city, and the consolation of the afflicted? and would you rashly throw discredit upon her sanctity? I beseech you then, most reverend fathers and just magistrates, as well as those many good Catholics assembled here — some of whom have doubtless cause to bless the Virgin of St. Pilar — to Ksten to the relation I am about to give, as to the manner in which this ring came into my possession, and to the proof which it will afford of my own innocence, and of the gracious condescension of the Virgin.' " This address, as may easily be imagined, excited no small surprise in those to whom it was addressed; and as my proffered narrative seemed to promise some new proof of power in the favourite saint of the people of Barcel- lona, although no one guessed what it might be, leave was given me to proceed with my excul- pation; and I accordingly delivered myself as follows : — "Yesternight, oppressed with the weight of sin, I resolved to seek the Dominican convent of your city (for I am a stranger in these parts), THE NEAV GIL BLAS. 83 for the purpose of humbling myself before the altar of the Virgin of St. Pilar, whose miraculous power, and kindness to the afflicted, has reached even the remotest corners in Spain, and, to con- fess the truth, it was the reputation of this saint that brought me hither, from beyond the Sierra Nevada, and even from the farthest corner of Andalusia. It was already dusk when I entered the convent ; and while I continued to rest upon the railings that inclose the chapel of the Virgin of St. Pilar, feeling that meditation and self- examination were necessary, to prepare me for setting foot within so holy a precinct, I heard the convent gates close, and was left alone in the church. I remained long in meditation, and it was approaching midnight before I had found sufficient resolution to throw myself below the altar of the miraculous image. Long I conti- nued in prayer; my face bent upon the ground; tiU, feeling in my heart that I had gained the favour of the Virgin of St. Pilar, I ventured to raise my eyes to the object of my devotion. The eyes of the Virgin were bent kindly upon me, and a benignant expression beamed on her coun- tenance ; but judge, most reverend fathers and devout magistrate — judge of my surprise, when the Virgin took from her finger the ring which you now see upon my unworthy hand, and ex- tending it towards me, with an encouraging ^. 84 /THE NEW GIL BLAS. bend, and a smile of ineffable sweetness, seemed to say, ' accept this as a proof of my good-will and miraculous power.' Awe-struck and trem- bling, yet daring not to reject the gift, I rose from my prostration, and advancing nearer to the altar, and kneeling upon the highest step, the Virgin herself placed the ring upon the finger where you now see it. ' Senores,' added I, in a bolder tone, ' it is a sacred gift — who dares remove it hence, or dispute the good pleasure of the Virgin? ' " " A confused murmur ran through the court ; the crowd, which had every moment increased, already looked upon me as half canonized, and all good Catholics crossed themselves perse- veringly; the superior of the Dominicans and the friars looked bewildered, and the corregidor irresolute. For my own part, I felt well assured how the affair would end. To deny the miracle, before so many bigoted Catalonians,* was more than either the friars or the corregidor dared to do; and valuable as the ring was, the additional sanctity and power of the Virgin proved in the transference of it, would, when noised abroad by the friars, do more for the convent than the restitution of it to the saint's finger.f The con- * Barcellona has always been celebrated for the zeal of its priesthood, and for the pains taken by them to hood- wink the people. — Spain in 1830. f The miracle would be at once credited in Barcellona. THE NEW GIL BLAS. 85 ference, therefore, between the corregldor and the friars was not long : ' This is, undoubtedly, a wonderful, and well - authenticated miracle,' said the superior, addressing all present; ' the saints defend me from questioning the will of the Virgin of St. Pilar; let us return to the convent, and prostrate ourselves before her altar.' " ' Friend,' said the corregidor, addressing me, ' thou maj'^'st keep the ring with which the Virgin has presented thee ; but,' added he, lowering his voice to a whisper, and with a sig- nificant look, ' take my advice, and in future de- cline to receive presents from saints or virgins.' " I understood the caution; and with my ring upon my finger, I left the hall of justice, pre- senting the sacred relic to the many mouths that eagerly advanced to kiss it; and not caring to "In the year 1827, there was, in one of the churches or convents, a certain image of a virgin, who was represented black. It was at this time, that an outcry had been raised against the liberals, who v/ere called negroes, {negro is the Spanish for black), and the rumour went abroad, that the negroes went to this church to pay adoration to the black virgin. Such being the case, the priests ventured upon and concerted a miracle, which might have the double efl'ect of strengthening the faith of the people, and of bringing the negroes into still greater discredit. One morning it was publicly announced that the virgin had changed from black to white ; and the good Catholics of Barcellona were invited to go and see the miracle with their own eyes, and they went by thousands. Let it not be forgotten, that this happened only four years ago." — Spain in 1830. 86 THE NEW GIL BLAS. remain longer in Barcellona, thinking it probable that the Dominicans might attempt to recover their property in their own way, I instantly hired a mule, and leaving the city, proceeded at a round pace towards the frontier, with only a few duros, and some loose reals in my purse. " ' My wits get sharper,' said I to myself, as I left Barcellona behind; ' I was not wrong in thinking that, in such a city, a man might find means both of emptying and of replenishing his purse ; but I must not always fill it at the ex- pense of one order of society — I must have A'alue from them all. And with this resolution I en- tered Gerona.' Here I found a break, a blank leaf in the history of my poor preceptor ; but upon turning over the leaf, I found he had continued it, though he appeared to have left unnarrated his journey and its events from Gerona, as far as Thoulouse. I confess the history had so much amused me, that the goblet of Paxarete re- mained un tasted; and resoMng for one night to forego the pleasure of scrutinizing the bright eyes in the Plaza de San Antonio, I recom- menced reading the story of Don Fernando, which, after the break I have mentioned, con- tinued as follows. — " It has always been my maxim through life, to provide timeously against THE NEW GIL Bh\S. 87 the evil day; by which I would be understood as meaning, the day when a man must grope in the very bottom of his purse to ferret out a solitary coin. Trust me, one coin is an exceed- ingly good help towards another ; and wit, with- out gold to back it, is commonly unproductive stock. Like health, which must not be allowed to decay altogether before we attempt to build it up, so is the purse: when the vis vitce gets too low, medicine may be applied in vain, it finds no aid within ; and thus I say it is of the purse, that while it is yet rovmd and healthy, it must be strengthened. And let me add too, that as it is sometimes necessary for the restoration of the body's health to impoverish it for a time, and even to withdraw from it a part of that which is its support and a portion of itself; so it is in renovating the health of the purse, which some- times requires to be freely bled, in order that it may be invigorated. This manner of illustrating my principle is sufficiently natural in one, who, as it will afterwards appear, took his degree in medicine in the imiversity of Paris. " Sometime before leaving Barcellona, and wliile my purse yet showed little sign of the atrophy with which it was afterwards threatened, I had pro\dded myself with a suit similar to that worn on high days by the great lords of Cata- lunia ; and having at Narbonne secretly disposed 88 THE NEW GIL BLAS. of the salver, which, by reason of the inimitable workmanship with which it was enriched, (by no less a hand as was said than that of Antonio Pascual), proved even more valuable than I had suspected, I found myseLF possessed of no incon- siderable stock of gold. Accompanied by my servant, whom I had picked up at Figueras — a countryman, as good luck would have it — and although the most cunning and lying of Valen- cians, the most faithful servant in the world, I made my entry into Thoulouse in the character of a Spanish grandee, which I well supported by my proud air, and haughty bearing, as well as by my contempt of horses, — mounted upon my great Spanish mule, and followed at a respectful distance by Diego upon another, both riding with as much speed as the dignity of so high a personage as myself would allow; and with what the French call an air of empressement, I alighted at the Hotel des Ambassadeurs, at that time the chief inn in the city, and occupied the apart- ments destined for persons of the greatest dis- tinction. " Scarcely had I arrived, when all the house was in commotion ; — the great lord was taken ill — the Spanish grandee was dying — the richest duke in Spain could not live an hour. " ' Ah, Dieu !' said Diego, (for the fellow could jabber French), 'my master, the duke of THE NEW GIL BLAS. 89 Monte-Serrate, will assuredly die, — the envoy- extraordinary from his Catholic majesty, will never live to deliver his credentials.' " ' The physician — the priest — the notary — which shall be sent for ?' said the landlord, with a shrug of infinite compassion. " 'Which shall be sent for, illustrious master ?' said Diego. " ' Not the physician,' said I, in a low tremu- lous tone, ' for I feel that I am past the reach of medicine ; not the priest, for a grandee of Spain must not be shriven by a Cure ; but haste, and quickly send for the most celebrated lawyer in this city, for it will require many hours even to enumerate the possessions which I must leave beliind me.' " The landlord bowed to the ground, and retired to execute my wishes; while I folded my rich cloak round me, placed my brilliant diamond ring more conspicuously upon my finger, laid my well-filled purse, whose open mouth sliowed a deep mine of louis-d'or, upon a table, and reclined in the attitude of a sick person, upon the well -pillowed bed. Presently the lawyer entered the chamber ; a grey-haired, keen-eyed man, who showed by the empressement of his manner, as well as by the multitude of liis bows, that he was well informed both of the rank of his employer, and of the importance of the document which he was called upon to prepare. 90 THE NEW GIL BLAS. " ' Sir,' said I, ' a thousand thanks for this ready acquiescence in my wishes — but time presses; sit down, and I will dictate to you not the form, but the substance of the testament which I have called you to make. The lawyer bowed, flung behind the periwig, which the action had disarranged, and took the pen in his hand. " ' Excuse the feebleness of my voice,' said I — ' draw the table nearer to my bedside,' said I — ' and now listen. Imprimis, I bequeath twenty thousand crowns to my faithful servant Diego.' * Nay, good Diego,' said I, raising my head from my pillow, ' do not weep ; the legacy which thy merits demand, will enable thee to be thy own master, which is better than being the servant of even a grandee — do not weep, but go and prepare a fleet horse to carry thee on thy journey to Paris, with the important letters which I bear from his Catholic, to his Christian Majesty; and now, sir, I am again at your service. " ' In the second place, I bequeath two thou- sand crowns to each of my thirty-seven servants in my two palaces at Barcellona and Tarragona. " ' In the third place, I appoint the sum of fifty thousand crowns to be paid to Don Tomas Lamo de Espinosa, my physician, as a trifling- mark of my esteem and gratitude. THE NEW GIL BLAS. 91 " ' In the fourth place, I bequeath ten thousand crowns to each of the honest tradesmen who have supplied my household with such provisions as my estates do not grow; videlicet, my butcher, my baker, my chocolate merchant, my water server, my ice merchant. " ' These, sir, are some trifling remembrances which may precede tlie disposal of the great bulk of my property. " ' In the fifth place, I appoint fifty thousand head, less or more, of Merino sheep, now grazing on the Sierras of Albarracin, near my Arra- gonese estates, to be — ^but stop, Mr. Notary, one thing I had forgotten, let me consider — that lazy escrivano, Morell of Barcellona, scarcely deserves a remembrance ; would you believe it, sir — you would not, — you, who hurried at midnight to perform a kind office to a dying man ; — that MoreD, a notary who owed to me every real he had in the world, delayed till morning answering a summons I sent to him at midnight, to come, with all haste, and take my instructions for my last testament. God was pleased that I should recover; but, sir, the indolence of that escrivano might have deprived me of the means of doing justice to my friends. ' Morell,' said I^ ' I intended to have remembered thee in my will, and made thee rich for life; not less than a hundred thousand crowns would have been thine 92 THE NEW GIL BLAS. but for thy present misconduct, — but I will not leave thee a peseta ! and the hundred thousand crowns I had intended for thee, shall benefit some more active and useful member of thy profession; one who does not, like thee, leave me to die without doing justice to my friends ; I swear it shall be so, Morell ! — no ! Morell deserves nothing at my hands,' said I, in a musing way, though aloud, while at the same time I could observe the flushed countenance and anxious eye of the lawyer, who, dazzled by the brilliant legacies that had risen beneath his pen, and catching at a faint hope from my last words, almost began to entertain the idea of seeing his own name in the testament of the duke of Monte- Serrate. " ' Sir,' said I, ' on the verge of the grave, as I am, half promises, even words scarcely im- meant, assiune the sacredness of vows ; you, sir, hastened to me in my extremity ; but for you, I might have been in the condition in which Morell would have left me — biu:dened in my last hours with the encumbrance of unalloted wealth ; and I feel that you have earned, and deserve the — the — lega — cy.' The lawyer held the pen in his hand, while his keen, anxious countenance was fixed upon me in breathless attention, but I feigned to be unable to finish the sentence, and sunk back exhausted on my pillow. THE NEW GIL BLAS. 93 " Just at this critical moment, Diego, who had been well instructed, and knew his time, entered the chamber abruptly, and with a disconcerted countenance. " ' Diable !' said the notary, addressing Diego in an under tone, and with ill-concealed vex- ation, ' what means this ill-timed interrup- tion ? ' " 'Only this,' replied Diego, ' I have scoured the whole city through, to find a strong, fleet horse to carry me with the duke's despatches to the capital, but being a stranger, no one will trast me \nth his horse.' " ' Hush, hush,' said the lawyer, writing a few hurried lines, ' deliver this paper, and thou may'st have a choice of horses.' " ' But,' said Diego, ' I must approach my dear master, to beg his blessing, and to receive a purse to bear the expenses of my long journey.' " ' What is it I hear,' said I in a feeble voice, ' is it Diego? what does Diego wish ? Come hither, my faithful Diego, approach thy dying master ; but I am better now, and almost able to proceed wnth my testament;' and notwith- standing that the lawyer would gladly have prevented any delay, Diego approached, to beg my blessing, and added in a low voice, yet loud enough to be heard, that he required a purse to defray the expenses of his journey. iff 94 THE NEW GIL BLAS. " ' For shame, Diego ; ' said I, with a heat that seemed to threaten suiFocation, and which threw the notary into a fever of alarm ; ' thus, in my last moments, to intrude upon me such paltry concerns as these, taking from the Kttle time left for arranging my important affairs witli this worthy gentleman — alas ! I feel my feeble- ness return.' " ' Permit me, sir,' said the lawyer, in a gentle tone, 'to arrange this little matter; I pray your highness will not trouble yourself farther, and by unnecessary exertion endanger your valuable life :' and without farther opposition on my part, the expectant of a hundred thousand crowns hastily wrote and delivered to Diego, an order on the bank of Thoulouse for two hundred louis- d'or; and Diego, having once more approached my bed-side, left the chamber with his handker- chief pressed to his eyes, and as I afterwards learnt, forthwith received from the landlord of the inn the sum contained in the order, as well as a couple of fleet horses from another quarter; and while I was still employed dictating to the lawyer, was so far on his way to the metropolis. " ' Let us now proceed with business, Mr. Notary,' said I; 'but my memory does not serve me to remember at what part we were interrupted — the testament, I think, was not concluded.' THE NEW GIL BLAS. 95 "'Your highness,' returned he, 'had just spoken of an indolent notary, called Morell, to whom you had purposed at one time to bequeath a hundred thousand crowns.' " ' Which,' said I, ' I now bequeath to you; 't is but a trifle, scarcely worth your acceptance, but will help to keep this evening in your remembrance.' " I will not dwell longer upon my interview with the lawyer : — a hundred thousand crowns to one hospital, and fifty thousand to another; a million of reals for masses; and lands, and palaces, and tOAvns, and villages, to the king, in default of an heir, filled up the testament. " The lawyer was about to take his leave, in company with the landlord, who had witnessed tlie execution of the testament, and whom I had declared to be the heir of the diamond ring upon my finger, when I addressed them thus : — ' My worldly affairs, gentlemen, are now arranged to my satisfaction; it yet wants several hours to morning, these I am desirous of spending in the company of some holy man, — for though a grandee of Spain, I now feel it to be unbe- coming pride to reject the counsel of the hum- blest minister of religion.' And but a few minutes had elapsed, after the notary and the witnesses had retired, before a Cure made his appearance at the door. I will refrain from 96 THE NEW GIL BLAS. relating all that passed between the Cure and the duke of Monte- Serrate ; but after I had received all the consolation I needed, or the Cure could give, I said, ' Now tell me, reverend father, if there be any churches, altars, or monasteries, in your city, by visiting which a dying man may obtain the especial favour of Heaven.' " ' In the church of St. Saturnin,' replied the Cure, ' there are seven altars so blessed, that Urban VIII has extended to all those who visit these altars, the same indulgences which have been conferred upon those who visit the seven altars in St. Peter's, at Rome.' " ' Then,' said I, ' I am resolved to visit these altars, feeble as I am : day almost breaks, and the gate of the church will presently be open to the devout; but this gorgeous mantle is no attire for a dying penitent who would prostrate him- self there; lend me thy cassock, reverend father, 'tis a soberer and more fitting dress, and in an hour I will return to receive the last offices.' " The Cure dared not well refuse this to a grandee of Spain, one too from whom he, no doubt, expected some considerable largess; an expectation in which I encouraged him, by say- ing, as I took up my purse, ' this shall pur- chase masses from thee;' and so throwing the Cure's cassock over my own cloak, which he had THE NEW GIL BLAS. 97 fortunately refused to allow me to throw upon his shoulders, I tottered with a feeble step across the chamber, and descending the stair unques- tioned, and with the grave step of a minister of religion who had just issued from a dying cham- ber, passed the court-yard, and gained the street. " As may be supposed, Diego was not abso- lutely beyond reach ; he and his two steeds were waiting his master's arrival near the bridge, and before the sun gilded the Garonne, — or the lawyer woke from his golden dream, — or the Cure missed his cassock, — or the landlord his guests and his bill, we had left twelve leagues of road behind us. ' Two such horses as these in exchange for two mules, friend Diego,' said I, ' and two hundred louis beside, is a good night's work.' " ' 'T is even better than your grandeeship imagines,' returned Diego, ' for here is also twice the value of the two mules from the purse of the landlord, who believes they are of the king of Spain's own breed.' " ' Thou 'rt a treasure of a servant,' said I, ' a chief of rogues and a prince of cheats — worthy of the master thou servest ; but thou shalt serve no longer ; henceforth let us join our fortunes, Diego, and change characters as may be con- venient. Let us be honest to each other, and cheat all the world beside; let us make a VOL. I. F 98 THE NEW GIL BLAS. partnership of brains, and a community of profits;' and so we joined our fortunes. But, alas ! I never think of my valued and gifted Diego, without a sigh to his memory. He was sent out of the world before he had obtained half value from it, on suspicion of a crime of which he was innocent, — he was worthy of a better fate; and I might perhaps add, of an honester colleague. " ' It occurs to me,' said Diego, as we ap- proached the next town, ' that the jest might be repeated ; the lawyers of Thoulouse are not the only rogues who deserve to be outwitted. It is but rolling up the cassock, or throwing it into a ditch bottom, and letting thy grandee- ship once more appear. Horses, indeed, we can scarcely make it appear that we stand in need of, — 'but if M^e get nothing beyond a hundred louis, it is worth taking to bed for a few hours.' " ' Cuerpo de San Jose,' said I : ' well thought of, and then it will be another step in my revenge.' " ' As for revenge,' rejoined Diego, ' I should think little of that, if it brought no grist to the mill.' And so it was resolved accordingly. The duke of Monte- Serrate was again at death's door, and dictated his last testament to a lawyer (as fond of crown pieces as his brother at Thou- louse) : a himdred louis were added to our stock, and I acquired also another cassock, which was disposed of like the former. THE NEW GIL BLAS. 99 " At length we reached the metropolis of France : — Here, I resolved to take caution for my guide; and in place of trusting to those random hits, which, if they cost little trouble, incurred considerable risk, I resolved that my wits should be a capital stock, bearing regular, though usurious interest. First, I entered myself of the university ; and although Diego grumbled sadly at the delay which my studies threw in the way of gain, I convinced him of the advan- tage that would accrue from the acquisition of a character; and accordingly, after a long period of self-denial, dinging which Diego, by liis prac- tice as a fortune-teller, gained just sufficient to enable us to preserve our stock entire, I walked one day out of the imiversity, bachelor of me- dicine ! " Tlie time draws so near for the accomplish- ment of the augury, that if I were not to curtail this history, I could scarcely find leisure for re- hearsing beforehand, the lessons once taught me by my good friend Querubim. I must there- fore be brief in my narrative of the events, that filled up the ten years during which my wits never left me without a choice ragout. Ah ! what days were these ! gone — gone : no matter — although my years be few, I have lived long. I have lived all my life; and few can say as much. F 2 100 THE NEW GIL BLAS. " First, my name figured at tlie corner of tlie Rue St. Jaques. ' Projects accomplished, and wishes realized, by the secret aid of Don Fer- nando de Rubio, doctor in laws of the univer- sity of Alcala, au troisieme.^ During more than three years, I scarcely found leisure to enjoy myself: — how full the world is of projects, and how rife of wishes ! Love and ambition brought many to my doors; but vanity and avarice brought more. Love brought the half-bearded boy, the budding girl; while, urged by its spu- rious relations, the hoary debauchee, and even once, in disguise, the emaciated Monarch sought my dwelKng. Some would be canons, some bishops, — one desired the favour of the king, another that of his mistress, — these sought for high posts and court distinctions; and ambition seemed to be the spur, or avarice. But I dis- covered that vanity whispered louder than love, or ambition, or avarice. If the court page, or the city apprentice, asked to sigh upon the lips of his mistress, it was, that he might boast of it ; if the dame d^honneur desired the favour of the count, or the dimpling milliner, the homage of the gargon bourgeois^ it was, because the heart of both beat less with tenderness, than the thought of triumph, — the vanity of distinction. If the cure wished to be a canon, or the canon a bishop, vain-gloriousness was largely mingled THE NEW GIL BLAS. 101 with love of power, and love of gold; if one' sought to be the king's minister, and another his jester, — if one sought the civic chair, and another the chief role in the drama, — if a gene- ral would obtain a victory, or a farmer-general a contract, — it was in every case that the pre- tensions of others might be humbled, and that vanity might find food for indulgence : nay, the very monarch, who would have given a jewel from his crown to overcome the obstinacy, or virtue, of a victim, was incited but by the wound that had been inflicted upon his vanity. My plan was a simple one. It was, to encou- rage hope — but to repress impatience; and the advice that is founded on experience of the world, and knowledge of mankind, will, if any thing can, lead to favourable results. But fame, however deserved, and reputation, however no- torious, will die away, — and so I found it. No fewer projects were formed, nor fonder wishes indulged, than before; but Don Fernando was no longer a conjurer. " I now changed my residence, and my name. At the top of the Rue des Maturins, which is at the opposite extremity of the city, I became a dispenser of the elixir vitse. No man who has not, like me, practised in this department, could believe in the attachment which men en- tertain for the life, which to others, seems to 102 THE NEW GIL BLAS. have lost all attraction. But this is, perhaps, natural ; for we prize nothing so much, as when we are in danger of losing it. My doors were besieged by the infirm, the aged, the diseased, — by wretches whose lives seemed to hang by a thread, and whose palsied arms could scarcely carry to their mouths the drug which they be- lieved was to renew their youth. My elixir was but wine of Malaga, which carried warmth to the stomach, and exhilaration to the spirit ; but the trade disgusted me; though at the same time, the scenes I daily witnessed, familiarizing me with disease and decay, more and more impressed upon my mind, the truth of my friend Querubim's opinion, and reconciled me to the fate that awaited me. " The last profession which I practised in the metropolis of France, and that which I exercised the longest, was undoubtedly the most respect- able. I hired a handsome house, in the most central part of the city, furnishing it in the most sumptuous and luxurious manner, and an* nounced myself as ' Professor of the art of enjoyment.' I was here a Frenchman — for I well knew, that although the French might be- lieve in Spanish fortune-tellers, or Italian quacks, they would never put confidence in any other than a Frenchman in teaching the art of enjoy- ment. THE NEW GIL BLAS. 103 " My profession embraced tlie whole circle of the world's pursuits and pleasures, and my pupils were numerous as my lessons were important. I lectured publicly, and gave private instruc- tions; but the latter were most run upon; for few care that others should know their secret bents and weaknesses. Thousands were per- fected by me in the art of enjoyment : thou- sands were made epicures of life; how many finished gourmands — how many refined de- bauchees — how many intellectual voluptuaries, (for my art extended over the moral as well as the physical world — the intellectual, as well as sensual pleasures), were indebted to my les-- sons, for the true zest and relish of living ! " I believe I might, until this day, have con- tinued to instruct mankind, and to postpone fate, had not my evil destiny, or my over zeal, or both conjoined, led to an event, that drove me from the scene of my pleasures, reduced me to beggary, brought me within sight of the gallows ; and deprived me of my dear friend, and able coadjuter, Diego, who, although I have been all this while silent respecting him, was ever constant in his zeal, and valuable from his services. " Among my pupils, was the archbishop of Paris, a voluptuary in every sense, and who had made nearer approaches towards perfection in 104 THE NEW GIL BLAS. the art I taught him, than any one save only his master. No one knew better than he did, that thousands pass out of life without having reaped from it half the enjoyment which it is capable of bestowing ; no one better knew, that there is not one pleasure to which art is not capable of adding an additional relish, whether it be applied to the lowest of the appetites, upon which it is able to throw the varnish of refine- ment, or to the highest and most intellectual of the enjoyments which but the few can gather on the highway of Kfe, imparting even to them a more exquisite charm. "I was justly proud of such a pupil; he did credit to my doctrines, and in many substantial ways, repaid the pains I had bestowed upon him, and acknowledged the benefits he had received. " I wished to reward him, and to collect around him, with a master's hand, all the means of en- joyment which my art had taught. It was in- deed the triumph of refinement over Ijarbarism ; of art, over unassisted nature; nay, art even assumed there, the dignity and the perfection of science. " ' Ah ! my best friend, and esteemed master,* said the archbishop, ' this is indeed life ! lay aside thy professorship, and enter the church; I swear thou art worthy of a bishopric' But THE NEW GIL BLAS. 105 alas ! my art fell sliort in one thing — it enjoined, but could not secure moderation; its very perfection tempted the violation of the precept. My pupil died in the midst of his debauch ; and in the banquet of enjoyment that I served up, the pleasures of life exhausted themselves in death. " I feared the discovery of a dead archbishop in my hall of pleasure, and Diego adventured to convey his reverence elsewhere ; but the pro- ject failed ; and the death of the surfeited arch- bishop lay at my door. Diego was seized, and I never heard of him more; for fearful of mi- pleasant consequences, I threw up my professor- ship in haste, and exchanged it for banishment, in place of a bishopric. " Destiny is not to be outwitted ; a man may delay, but he cannot avert his fate, — a strange infatuation generally leads him to the scene of its accomplishment. All the world was open to me, and yet, I returned to my own country • partly perhaps incited by the love of it, and partly anticipating the pleasure of a meeting with Querubim, and a renewal of those topics which had once such attractions for me, and in which I again felt a rising interest. " At Madrid, I attempted to practise the pro- fessions which had proved so successful in France ; but I found, that in my country a fortune could f3 106 THE NEW GIL BLAS. not be made either by aiding the accomplish- ment of wishes, by dispensing the elixir vitse, or by teaching the art of enjoyment. " My "countrymen project little, and for aiding their wishes, they have a host of auxiliaries in the saints : ambition can have little scope, where there is little to bestow, — and love can scarcely require the aid of a conjurer, where its triumphs are so easy. As for the elixir vitse, I found no one who would have coveted it, rich enough to pay me for it, besides that most persons regarded it as an invention of the devil. And as for teaching the art of enjoyment, there are scarcely two ways of eating a puchero, or cutting up a melon ; and in a country where nature, not art, is the purveyor of pleasure, there is no room for teaching. In short, I found my purse con- tinue empty, and myself suspected of damnable heresy ; and to escape the prisons of the Inqui- sition, t made a hasty retreat from Madrid, and began to look about me in Seville. Here I attempted many things ; but pocketed few pesetas, till at length, disguised like a Capuchin friar, having begged a considerable sum for a religious procession, I left Seville with my gains, for Cadiz, and on my way fell in company with Don Pedro of Penaflor, an inexperienced youth, into whose good graces I insinuated myself, and grew fat at his expense. THE NEW GIL BLAS. 107 " The few hours now remaining to me, will not permit me to fill up my history beyond an outline. I was left master of my pupil Don Pedro's establishment, and I made myself master of his gold. Gold, as I have elsewhere said, begets gold, and I took advantage of my oppor- tunity ; but success has a limit, and wit cannot strive against fate. It is enough to say, that my project failed; and that the die is cast. Let me now remember the lessons of my kind- hearted Querubim, nor let me forget to send, as the duke of Monte- Serrate did, for a holy man, to administer to my spiritual comfort." " And this then is the life of my preceptor," said I, laying down the paper, and finishing my goblet of Paxarete. " Wit has been his only alchemy; and truly he said, that he had never wanted a peseta. Poor Fernando ! now he stands in need of neither." But as I glanced round the well-furnished chamber, and remem- bered the enviable post into which I had slid, I could not but acknowledge to myself, that the tragical end of so dangerous a companion might prove a benefit to me, — and with this consola- tion for the loss of my preceptor, I enjoyed more tranquil visions in the house of the Mar- 108 THE NEW GIL BLAS. quesa, than those which had visited me w^hile sleeping on the stone bench on the Alameda. Morning came, and brought with it a renewal of the agreeable thoughts with which I had courted sleep; I found myself during the day, as the Marquesa had promised I should be, my own master ; if my stock of gold were less than before my preceptor had robbed me, I had at least the consolation of knowing, that the ser- vices of each day were renewing it; and that I had to provide for no one's pleasure but my own ; and although a marquesa's domestic could not well strut about the Alameda, or the Plaza de Antonio, with the air of one who kept do- mestics, and entertained even a tutor of his owti, I found that pleasures are not confined to one sphere, and that independence is not synoni- mous with living upon one's own resources. In short, the day passed away to my liking ; and I looked forward to the duties of the evening with nothing but pleasant anticipation. After having despatched an oUa, that would have done credit to the genius of my preceptor, or his pupil the archbishop, and a bottle of nectar, that reminded me of the elixir vitse, I was again summoned by the Marquesa, and found that this evening my services, though of a rather more complicated nature, were not the less agreeable : there was a tertulia at home ; and when in the usual exer- THE NEW GIL BLAS. 109 cise of my duty, I was required to pass judg- ment upon the Marquesa, she informed me, that some of the most celebrated beauties of Cadiz would that night be present ; and requested a new proof of my sincerity, in comparing her claims with theirs, — and as she spoke, I could remark how entire a sway the love of admira- tion had obtained over her mind. Wlien she requested this favour of me, her voice faltered, and it w^as evident that she was confiding to me, the decision of a question upon which the hap- piness of her life — perhaps even life itself, was suspended; nor could I help fancymg, from the earnestness with which she spoke, and the agita- tion she betrayed, that this night was meant as a trial of her power, and that feeling in her own mind some misgivings, she was resolved to know the worst. I promised strict obedience to her commands ; and that I might execute my duties with the greater freedom, the task of serving refreshments was confided to me; and never, I believe, was there a company more assiduously served. Many were the delicate hands that were ex- tended to accept my proffer; many, the charming little heads that bowed their thanks; many a sweet " gracias" was pronounced by sweeter lips; nor could I help remarking, that the direction of the eyes was more frequently 110 THE NEW GIL BLAS. favourable to my scrutiny, than seemed at all necessary towards a choice of the fruits and cakes that were presented. Whether these things could have had any effect upon my judgment, I will not undertake to say, — but certain it is, that when, after the guests were gone, and I was called upon for a verdict, and was made to ratify my words, by invoking all the saints to witness my faithfulness, I made a mental reservation of the saint I had stolen from my father ; believing, that if I had spoken falsely (of which I had some suspicions), he would otherwise have infallibly avenged the insult I had once offered to him. The Mar- quesa, however, had no misgivings of my sincerity; and in this manner, nearly twelve months glided away. I passed my time in the most agreeable manner possible ; and had every reason to be satisfied with my post, the duties of which had indeed long since ceased to afford me much pleasure, but which were easily discharged, and never failed to give satisfaction. Some months had however elapsed, during which, my sincerity was put more and more severely to the test. The empire of beauty over which the Marquesa had so long presided, was tottering, — new claimants to it had arisen ; and I plainly perceived, that some decided mark of rebellion would ere long force upon her the THE NEW GIL BLAS. Ill conviction, that her reign had ended, and bring that day of humiliation which she assured me she could never survive. Should such an event take place, my services would be no longer needed, nor could I expect them to be rewarded if they failed at the very point where they were most valuable. The same night accordingly, when I was called to the presence of my mistress, I resolved to take to myself again, that virtue, which was now my own best policy. " Madam," I said, " you have often reminded me of the condition upon which I entered into your service." " It is enough," interrupted she in a tone of the deepest dejection; " I know it, — the freshness of youth is gone ; my reign is over, and life is no more of any value to me. Accept of this," continued she, taking from her finger a diamond ring of great value, " you have faithfidly per- formed your duty, — now, your services are no longer required; and remember, in your after intercourse with the world, that the virtue which by me is the most highly prized, is not that which the world holds in the highest estimation." With these words, she left me, and I never saw her more. Next morning she was found seated before her mirror, lifeless ; her fan was in one hand, and a miniature of herself, taken some years before, in the other. A phial, in which 112 THE NEW GIL BLAS. were the dregs of a swift and deadly poison, stood near; and upon a piece of scented paper her hand had traced these words : " During twelve years I have known only one enjoyment, the consciousness of exciting admiration : in the possession of this enjoyment, I have been the happiest of women ; without it, I should be the most miserable. I have no reason to com- plain ; my reign has been long, and I have been spared the humiliation of seeing my throne occupied by another : I have not courage to descend from it, and live neglected." This incident did in some degree discompose me; but when I reflected, that in practising the virtues of sincerity and faithfulness, I could not be responsible for consequences, I recovered my serenity ; and by and by, even congratulated myself upon the policy of my conduct, which had gained so considerable a requital of my services as a ring worth at least a thousand reals; and with these thoughts, I found myself once rilore my own master, and turning the corner of the Alameda. CHAPTER X. SHOWING HOW I UNDERTAKE THE MANAGEMENT OF AN AFFAIR OF THE HEART ; AND HOW, AFTER HAVING MANAGED IT EXCEEDINGLY WELL, I HAVE GREAT REASON TO REGRET THAT I DID NOT MANAGE IT STILL BETTER. Who should I run against but Juan Ramirez, an amiable young artist, whose acquaintance I had made while in my last quarters, upon oc- casion of his soliciting the permission of my patroness to take her likeness. " Ah, Seiior," said he, " well met, have you obtained an answer to my petition ? I am sure the Marquesa can refuse you nothing, — she will make a charming picture." " Ramirez," replied I, " 't is the most unlucky thing in the world. I pleaded your cause with the Marquesa with all the ability I was master of, you can form no idea of the earnestness with which I urged your request." " And nevertheless she refused." " No ; she did not refuse, she granted my 114 THE NEW GIL BLAS. suit, and this very da}^ you were to have been honoured with an audience ; but — " " Well, well," interrupted Ramirez impa- tiently, " if not to-day — to-morrow — or the next day. I am charmed with your success; all days are alike to me." " And so they are now to the Marquesa — but come," continued I, " let us repair to the fonda hard by ; I have not broken my fast to-day, and over a cup of chocolate you shall know more." And while we sipped our chocolate, I explained to Ramirez how all days were now alike to the Marquesa. "And so," said he when I had concluded, " you are without money, and in want of a place ; you know I am but an artist, and have but little to offer ; at present, however, I need the aid and counsel of one like you, who has seen the world ; in the meanwhile come with me, and remain with me till something better turn up ; and you shall assist me to the best of your ability in an affair of the heart, the parti- culars of which I shall lay before you." Well contented with the proposal, and with a fixed determination to act faithfully and honestly towards the open-hearted artist, — if this could be done without detriment to my own interest, — 1 accompanied Ramirez to liis apartment in the Calle de san Geronimo, where, after an indif- THE NEW GIL BLAS. 115 ferent dinner, lie gave me tlie following detail of the affair, in which he hoped for my assist- ance : — " You must know," said he, " that I have two cousins, both artists, — the one named Alonso, the other Felipe ; and that I have also a female cousin in the second degree, named Violante. Now, when the father of Violante died, he left his property to her, on the sole condition of her marrying one of her three cousins : she is one of the most charming senoritas in Cadiz, — but of so timid and gentle a character, that although two years have elapsed since the death of her father, and although importuned, as you may easily suppose, by each of her cousins, it has been impossible during all that time, to bring her to any admission of a preference of one over the others. But within these few days, she has been prevailed upon by her guardian, to resolve upon a method by which her father's desire may be fulfilled, while at the same time, she is still spared the necessity of making a choice: she has promised to bestow her hand upon whichever of her three cousins shall paint the truest likeness of her; and one month from this time, — the morning of her twentieth birth- day, — is the time fixed for the decision. Ever since this determination of Violante has been announced, I have been in despair. If she did 116 THE NEW GIL BLAS. not possess a peseta, I would give the world to make lier my wife, — whereas, I am well con- vinced, that neither of my cousins (both of whom are much richer than I am), have any true regard for her, — but are only desirous of possessing the handsome fortune which was left to her by her father. As for the inclinations of Violante herself, she is so timid, that it is difficult to be assured upon that point; but I have nevertheless the vanity to believe, that I possess her good wishes : but alas ! I fear they are fruitless, — both of my cousins are celebrated in portraits ; whereas my skill, although some- times exerted in the representation of the human form, is chiefly exhibited in the drapery: in short, my dear Diego, I am incompetent to the task of painting a portrait of my cousin. This, my rivals well know; and accordingly they look upon the struggle as lying entirely between themselves: their portraits are already far ad- vanced, but neither of the two has seen his rival's portrait; as for me, I have painted the figure of my cousin, but beyond a mere outline of a countenance which has little resemblance to her's, I have not attempted to go. We are all three on the best possible terms, although rivals; and this very night, we sup with my cousin and her guardian. This, my dear friend, is the state of the matter ; and I pray you to set THE NEW GIL BLAS. 117 your wits at work, to avert the misfortune that is ready to fall upon me ; I know how to rew^ard the services of a friend." I told Ramirez not to despair : " I have little doubt," I said, " but that some plan for extri- cating you from this difficulty will occur to me ; meantime you must appear to your rivals, to resign your claims: finish with all your skill, the figure of your mistress — a form may be a portrait, as well as a face — and abide my farther directions; to-night, you must introduce me to your rivals, and I'll warrant that before the month has elapsed, the affair will not look so unpromising as it does now." The artist agreed to be obedient to my direc- tions ; and when evening came, he carried me to the house of his cousin, and introduced me to his rivals. If I felt a disposition to assist the views of Ramirez before seeing either his rivals, or the lady of their emulation, it was now increased tenfold ; for not only were the rival cousins of Ramirez in no way to be compared with my friend, but Violante also was a far more tempt- ing prize than I had ever been led to believe. I found her mistress of the most charming figure in the world; and of a countenance, in which the most seductive modesty, and even bashful- ness, were unable to conceal altogether, the intelligence that occasionally flashed from be- 118 THE NEW GIL BLAS. neatli her eye-lids. " It shall not be my fault," said I to myself, " if Ramirez do not outwit these gentlemen ;" and I accordingly set myself, as a preparatory step, to cultivate the acquaint- ance of those who were destined to be outwitted, and to recommend myself in every possible way, to their esteem and confidence. Meanwhile, Ramirez played his part to perfec- tion. He allowed his cousin to be entirely mono- polized by his rivals ; spoke dejectedly of himself, as an imfortunate artist, and of the art itself, as if he meditated relinquishing it to those who were more successful ; by which manner of talk, the double end was answered, of misleading his rivals, and of interesting the feelings of Violante, upon whose preference the claims of the cousins might ultimately depend, in case of an equality in their performances. Before the evening ended, I received a pressing invitation from the guar- dian of Violante, to repeat my visit; and this being overheard by the two artists, I was from that moment numbered among their friends. I did not neglect to improve my opportunity ; I constantly spoke to both, as if Ramirez had abandoned his pretensions. And in the success of each of his rivals, I professed the warmest interest. To the fair object of their individual pretensions, I spoke with befitting reserve of the approaching crisis, — which it was evident she THE NEW GIL BLAS. 119 herself did not anticipate wdtli any very eager longing. Of Ramirez, I spoke to her, as of one deserving pity; and yet, by an occasional inuendo, I hinted, that although his hopes were small, he had not allowed himself entirely to despair. It was understood that, previous to the deci- sive morning, each of the three candidates for Violante's favour, should present his present, — a custom which in Cadiz has been imported from France, and which, although usually the offering only of a husband elect, was meant in this in- stance, to be typical of the hopes of each. My friend, being poor as a rat, could not vie with his rivals in the costliness of his offerings : it would have spent a year's revenue to have pre- sented his cousin with a necklace worthy of her acceptance. " Do not think of it, my friend," said I, " leave the affair to me :" and accord- ingly, having first ascertained upon what day the two rival artists were to send their gifts, I chose the day following, when the glitter of their jewels might have passed from Violante's eyes; and I then presented myself before her as the bearer of my friend's humble offering. " 'T is all," said I, "he has to offer; — alas! poor Juan well knows the advantage his rivals possess : they are rich, because their skill in portraits ministers to the vanity of mankind; he is poor, because vanity is the universal passion : this," said I, " is 120 THE NEW OIL BLAS. his offering" — drawing from tlie basket one of those white veils of beautiful texture, behind which the women of Georgia so successfully hide their charms — " he sends you this, that on the bridal morning you may, in compassion, conceal those charms which he dare not hope can ever be his." The eventful day approached; and now it was on the morrow, at an early hour, that the fate of the cousins was to be determined, and along with it the condition of my purse. It was towards evening, then, that I took my way to the apartment of the artist Alonso. I found him in his studio, contemplating, with looks of evi- dent satisfaction, a picture of a female, which he had just placed in the most advantageous light ; the finishing touch of the painter was yet wet upon the thick tresses that veiled her bosom. Alonso hastily turned the picture. " How now, my friend," said I, as I entered; " to-morrow the birth-day of the seiiorita, — and where is thy painting?" " The picture is ready," replied Alonso. " And so is your rival's," returned I. " I have but now left him; he had just thrown down his brush ; it is a choice picture I assure you : — but show me yours." "An excellent picture, truly, — an excellent picture," said I, as Alonso turned it round : "but — " THE NEW GIL BLAS. 121 " But not equal to my rival's, you would say." " Equal ! nay, superior to Lis," rejoined I ; "but not so likely to please her for whom it is designed : the other is the portrait of a more beautiful countenance." A pause ensued — both of us continuing to . look at the picture. " I was almost so much your friend," resumed I, " as to wish a few moments ago, that I had your rival's picture under my brush for one second ; I 'd soon spoil that angelic smile that hovers round her lips; I'd make a caricature of your cousin." " Would that you had," said Alonso, thought- fuUy. " Nay," returned I, " that is your business, not mine ; but Felipe sups with us to night, and I know that Ramirez has got some choice wine, that will scarcely let him go before midnight. All will be still about eleven; and you know the way to his studio. I had once hopes for my friend Ramirez; but as these are ended, my good wishes are with you; and I can tell you in confidence, that Violante is not insensible, — you understand me? when the old cathedral tolls eleven, then." — A squeeze of the hand told me that my hint should not pass disregarded, and I took my leave. " Stay," said Alonso, as I was closing the door, VOL. I. G 122 THE NEW GIL BLAS. " my cousin told me that fortune had used you hardly ;" and so saying, he slipt into my hand a charmingly weighty purse, which I allowed my fingers to close upon with much apparent reluct- ance; and with many sincere self-gratulations upon the success of my plan. It was not many minutes after I had left the one rival, before I entered the studio of the other, whom I found employed nearly in the manner that I had repre- sented. " Ah, Felipe," said I, " my poor friend, you may burn your brushes when you please ; Alonso will assuredly carry off the prize." " Have you seen his picture ? " demanded Felipe, impatiently. " It is Violante herself," returned I, "it is Violante herself: your picture," turning to Fe- lipe's work, " is the portrait of a pretty wo- man, but it is not the portrait of your cousin; her eyes, Felipe ! it is there that your rival has shown his skill. So truly am I your friend," added I, taking Felipe by the hand, and throw- ing into my countenance an expression of sor- row; " that since I know it to be impossible for my friend Ramirez to obtain the hand of Ids cousin; — for I candidly confess, that had that been possible; but, as I say, that being out of the question, I would give something — though God knows I have little to give — to see you fairly in possession : even now, when Alonso THE NEW GIL BLAS. 123 left itie for a moment in liis studio, I was almost tempted to take up his brusli, and turn his pic- ture into a caricature." *' There is, then, no remedy," said Felipe. " There is nothing without a remedy," I re- plied, " so as we have but courage to attempt it." " Show me how," returned Felipe, " and you shall not long have it in your power to say that you have little to give; you shall find that I know how to estimate a kindness." *' Alonso," said I, " sups with us to-night ; — it is only vaulting over his garden wall, when the ■cathedral toUs eleven; he will scarcely leave us till midnight: it is full-moon to-night, and the picture cannot be mistaken; and, besides, my friend, I can tell you that Violante herself will rejoice in the effects of this stratagem, — and as she must no doubt keep her promise, 'twould be a pity, truly, if her promise were to stand in the way of her inclinations — for, trust me, my friend, I know where they point : — nine to- morrow morning is the hour ; and the discovery and the hour will arrive together. At eleven, then."—" At eleven," said Felipe ; " but," added he, " I had almost forgotten ; Ramirez, poor fel- low, I am sure entertains you but indifferently, and I have heard of your misfortune, — do not, I pray you be offended, if I force this into your g2 124 THE NEW GIL BLAS. hands." And so saying, a rival to Alonso's bounty found its way into my pocket. " This," said I to myself, as I took my way towards Ramirez' apartment, " turns out mar- vellously well ; if my plan prospers to the end, I shall be made for life; and even if it fail, I have not altogether lost my labour; for by the weight of these purses, which I long to examine, I judge that my afternoon's work has not been badly requited." With these thoughts, I reached my friend's house : " keep up your spirits," said I, " I am not without hopes that all will go well ;" and over a bottle of excellent wine (for which I changed one of my pieces), we drank success to our hopes; and I received from Ramirez a writing, by which he bound himself to transfer four thousand crowns to my pocket, the day he wedded his cousin. " Ah, Diego," said he as he gave it to me, " would to God they were yours ! " — a wish in which I fully sympathised. As eleven tolled from the tower of the cathe- dral, I was posted in a convenient place, that I might ascertain the success of my stratagem; and, almost immediately after the last toll, I perceived the two artists, muffled closely up in their cloaks, pass each other, each stealing softly towards his rival's studio. " Poor dupes," said I, as I saw them shortly after return, each satisfied in his own mind, that he had made a caricature THE NEW GIL BLAS. 125 of his rival's performance ; and it being by this time close upon midnight. The artists as I afterwards learned, each secure in his own suc- cess, immediately upon reaching their studios threw himself upon his bed, having first neatly folded up his picture by the light of the moon, to be ready against morning. The morning came ; and precisely at the ap- pointed hour, I accompanied my friend to the house of his charming cousin, who was that day to become a bride; but the bride of whom, no one could yet tell. She wore the veil I had presented to her as the gift of my friend; who, being ignorant of what had been the nature of the present I had made in his name, smiled with pleasure as he recollected that, he had followed my advice as to the manner of finishing his pic- ture. When I looked at Violante, and saW the perfect symmetry of that form which her bridal dress so charmingly set ofi"; the beautiful little foot that peeped below it; the rounded shoulder, that scarcely brooked confinement, and would ever be rivalling the snow of the robe that embraced it; the faint carnation, that as we entered suffused the neck telling, of the warmer blush that then crimsoned the cheek, hidden behind the folds of the veil, that also shrouded a world of other charms ; — 1 say, that when I looked upon this yet unclaimed bride, I 126 THE NEW GIL BLAS. felt only one regret ; and tliat was, that I had not set my wits to work for myself, in place of for my friend. It was now too late, however, to think of repairing this error ; and therefore, consoling myself with the hope of her being my friend's wife since she could not be my own, and with the credit of having acted disinterestedly, I im- patiently waited the arrival of my two dupes. They, as sometimes happens on the eve of an important event, slept until it was almost time to present themselves at the house of their cousin, — their heaviness being probably occa- sioned by the weight of their golden dreams, — and taking their ready folded-up pictures under their arms, they hastened to the rendezvous. The guardian of the fair Violante was a very formal old gentleman, and would have the thing done with all the ceremony and seriousness that were befitting upon an aifair so serious as the disposal of a ward possessing two millions of reals, to say nothing of her personal charms, of which he was not a little proud. To him, she had modestly deputed the task of deciding upon the respective merits of the portraits; accordingly, seating himself on his large chair with all the importance of a judge, and placing his ward at his right hand, he desired the rival candidates to make good their claims; when, almost at the same moment, Alonso and Felipe THE NEW GIL BLAS. 127 uncovered tlieir pictures, each with an air of triumph turning them towards the judge. The moment I cast my eyes upon them, I burst into an immoderate iit of laughter, — as indeed was most natural, for Alonso's portrait represented his cousin with only one eye, while in that of Felipe, her mouth had received a paralytic stroke : the countenance of my friend Juan at this moment expressed the utmost astonishment; as no doubt, that of the lovely bride would also have done, had she thrown back her veil, — as for the old guardian, wrath kindled in his face. ' What ! rascals !' said he, the moment he recovered from the first paroxysm of wonder, ' are ye in a league to insult my ward;' at the same time, turning round the pictures to the view of the artists, who had both, up to this moment, enjoyed the laughter and surprised looks of the party, because each of them thought these were directed at his rival's picture, — as was also most natural, since Alonso knew that he had made a caricature of Felipe's picture, and FeKpe was as fully persuaded that he had made a caricature of Alonso's. But the satisfaction and glee of the painters were speedily changed to astonishment and dismay; their countenances being in fact, quite as divert- ing as their pictures. They looked at the por- traits — then at the guardian — then at Violante — 128 THE NEW GIL BLAS. then at each other, and then at me. It was no difficult matter to read in my countenance, the pleasure I felt in having made them dupes ; but to have upbraided me with the contrivance, would also have been, to proclaim their own knavery, and they therefore remained silent ; exchanging only looks of mortification at each other, and darting ireful glances towards me : but for my part, I already all but felt the four thousand crowns in my pocket; and I only returned provoking looks of satisfaction, as if I would have said, " poor devils ! prettily duped are you." All this takes some time to tell ; but it was very short in the acting. At the first pause, Ramirez produced his picture, which represented his cousin at full length, with a white veil thrown over her head. " Sir," said I, addressing the old gentleman, ' I could easily unravel the history of these caricatures, but as it would reflect little honour upon the painters, they will prefer I have no doubt, that the mystery should remain unexplained ; for they well know, that this lady will not give her hand to any one who has attempted to gain possession of it by dishonest means. As for the three pictures, there is no doubt to which of them the preference is due. This is not the portrait of Dona Violante, for there is here but one eye — nor is that, for there THE NEW GIL BLAS. 129 tlie mouth is the mouth of one palsied, — but in this picture, what is there that does not belong to that lady ? the form is her's, the air, the grace ; and although the charms of her countenance be veiled, this is but typical of the bashfulness that is her distinction and her ornament: and moreover, what painter is there who could hope to portray the changing expression, the mantling blush, that might be expected in the counte- nance of a youthful bride at such a scene as this, and on her bridal morning? Ramirez has judged well, in veiling the charms of his cousin; for he has thus represented her mind as well as her form, and you perceive by the thick veil she now wears, how accurate has been his judgment, and consequently, how expressive his portrait." " You are in the right," said the old man ; " and if Violante confirm my opinion, let it be so determined:" and her guardian having put the question to her, she replied, that having left the decision to him, she was ready to abide by his judgment. Upon this, the two dupes find- ing their hopes at an end, left the apartment; and Violante then throwing back her veil, allowed her guardian to place her hand in that of her cousin, — the charming blush, and averted looks, testifying how well satisfied she was with the issue of the competition ; and I for my part, received a thousand thanks from her guardian, G 3 130 THE NEW GIL BLAS. as well as from Ramirez, for my disinterested services. From Violante herself, I was repaid by a smile, that again sent to my heart a pang of deep regret that there were not three dupes in place of two. Alonso's and FeKpe's heavy purses however, and still more, the four thou- sand crowns in prospect, were some consolation for the consequences of my disinterestedness in having served my friend. " I am yet but beginning the world," I said to myself; " I shall learn wisdom by and by." CHAPTER XI. SHOWING THE CONNEXION BETWEEN DISAPPOINTED LOVE AND revenge; AND HOW VIOLANTE ACQUIRES ALL THE PRI- VILEGES OF SENORA, WITHOUT LOSING THE ATTRACTIONS OF SENORITA. 1 MAKE A NEW ACQUAINTANCE, AND AM ON THE EVE OF ENRICHING MYSELF FOR EVER. Owing to the successful issue of this affair, I began to look upon myself as a person of some capacity ; and to conceive higher hopes of my advancement in the world. Not many days after the triumph of Ramirez, the nuptials were cele- brated; and it had previously been arranged, that upon the same day, the bride's guardian and the two disappointed artists, should partake of a bridal feast at the house of the new-married couple. Ever since the decision which had crushed the hopes of Alonso and Felipe, they had appeared to take their disappointment in good part; they spoke of the affair jestingly, admitting that they had been outwitted; and they even went so far as to say, that they de- 132 THE NEW GIL BLAS. served tlieir fate ; while Violante, with her usual kindness of disposition, was charmed to think that in selecting one of the cousins for her hus- band, she might expect to retain the other two as friends. Ramirez was of a different opinion. " You do not know them," said he to Violante in my presence, the day before the bridal. " Depend upon it they will never forgive any of us ; and that hatred and jealousy rankle in their minds. I would rather they were our avowed enemies, than our seeming friends ; and who knows what means they may take to revenge themselves upon us." " Oh, Juan," said Violante, " do not speak so harshly of our cousins ; I trust they are deserving of our better opinions." " W^ell, well, mi querida" replied Ramirez, " may you be in the right ! only this I know, that I would rather be where I am, than alone with them on the ramparts on a dark night." The two unsuccessful artists were present at the bridal. That their countenances should have expressed the workings of jealousy and disap- pointment, could have surprised no one ; but I was at a loss to understand the expression of malicious triumph that shone through every other. When a few hours later, however, they entered the bridal house, this expression was no longer visible : in the countenances and manner THE NEW GIL BLAS. 133 of both of them, there was the utmost good humour and amenity; but this change did not remove from my mind, the impression I had received from the conversation of Ramirez, strengthened as it had been, by the glances I had seen exchanged beside the altar. It is a custom, peculiar I believe to Cadiz, that upon an occasion of this kind, each guest shows his good will by sending one dish to the feast — and that he who sends it, also presides over its distribution at table. This custom was not neglected at the bridal feast of Juan Ramirez and his cousin. Don Sancho (for such was the name of the guardian), presented a magnificent dish of quails — and Seiior Alonso sent a tureen full of sopa de tomates — a dish, of which his cousin Violante never partook, from some natural dislike of the flavour of tomata. This, to say the least of it, was a strange choice upon his part, and to my mind, there appeared something suspicious in it. The bride of course declined the soup, which led to a thousand apologies on the part of Alonso, for having forgotten that his cousin never ate of sopa de tomates. Ramirez was helped first, and it being my turn next, I cautiously sipped, until I might ascertain by its eifect upon Ramirez, whether my suspicion had any foundation. Scarcely had he swallowed three spoonsful. 134 THE NEW GIL BLAS. when I perceived a sudden and dreadful altera- tion in his countenance ; my suspicions being thus confirmed, I sprung across the table, and seizing Alonso, and holding back his head (for I was greatly the stronger), I poured down his throat, notwithstanding his struggles, double the quantity of his own soup that Ramirez had swallowed; and at the same instant I perceived that both the one and the other lay senseless in their chairs. Meantime Seiior Felipe had got his sword out of its scabbard, and it was within an inch of my throat before I knew of its exist- ence ; but being in these days inferior to few in activity, I sprung back, and was soon upon the defensive, and in another moment was the as- sailant ; for not being without my suspicions, I had taken care to buckle on the good sabre of Andrades, which I already knew how to wield with advantage. Never were tragedy and comedy more strangely blended, than in the scene now exhibited ; while the swords of Felipe and myself continued to clash, exclamations of " my poor Juan, — oh, Dios ! oh, Dios !" were heard from Violante, as she bent over her husband; the old guardian stood wringing his hands, now lift- ing them up, — now letting them fall, — and mut- tering lamentations, sometimes over Ramirez and his bride, — sometimes over the perils that were thickening around himself, — and some- THE NEW GIL BLAS. 135 times, directed towards the overturned dishes ; the rich sauces, that were straying over the table, and the excellent quails that were rolling on the floor. Meanwhile, I was proving myself an overmatch for Felipe, who, beginning to per- ceive a probability that he also might speedily form part of the wreck of the feast, abandoned the field, and made his escape through the window, and I was left in the banquet room with the widowed bride and her guardian, and the two poisoned gentlemen. When I had leisure to breathe and look round me, I found the old guardian, Don Sancho, engaged in the laudable design of comforting his ward. "It might have been worse," said he, " the rascal meant to have poisoned us all ; I might have been poisoned — you, if you had chanced to like sopa de tomates, might have been poisoned — the Caballero there, might have been poisoned : your husband may possibly re- vive ; but if not, it is better that it should have happened now than at any other time ; for you have obtained the rank of a married woman, without any of its drawbacks: believe me, my dear Violante, it is not every woman who obtains the title and privileges which marriage confers, without losing any of the attractions of a seiiorita. But notwithstanding this consolatory language, Violante continued to bewail her misfortune, and 136 THE NEW GIL BLAS. made no answer, save tears, to the well-meant, though as I confess it seemed to me, some- what ill-timed discourse of her guardian. " Leave me to my grief, " said she, as I approached ; a request which I thought it most prudent to obey, for just then casting my eyes towards the window, which still remained open, I perceived Felipe, followed close at the heels by three or four officers of justice ; and although Con- scious that I had done no more than rightfully reward Alonso for his villany, yet being sensible that I had taken the law into my own hands, and that Felipe could better afford to bribe justice than I could, and might therefore hang me if he had a mind, I resolved to make my exit by the door, and avoid all explanations. Leaving Violante, therefore, still inconsolable, and the two cousins — the poisoner and the poi- soned, sitting stiff in their chairs, I made a hasty retreat, reflecting with no small pleasure upon my good fortune, in having already received from my friend the handsome perquisite for which I had stipulated. The sum had been paid to me in five hundred pieces of eight,* and these I had safely deposited in a leathern purse. I made what haste I could to leave the city, and passing quickly along the ramparts and * A sfold coin worth eiffht dollars. THE NEW GIL BLAS. 137 through tlie eastern gate, I found myself safe from present danger ; and as I proceeded rapidly along the causeway that connects Cadiz with the main land, I could not forbear moralizing upon the events of which I had just been a witness, — the sudden reverse of fortune that had overtaken Ramirez, and the just punishment of the secret assassin ; but I bitterly regretted that I had been concerned in them, not because I accused myself of a crime, but because if I had acted with greater prudence, I might have re- mamed to point out in due season, a remedy to the charming Violante for the loss of her hus- band ; this it was that weighed upon my spirits, as I walked towards Isla. I had not left Cadiz more than a league and a half behind, when I perceived on the road before me two persons, of whose business there, or condition in life, I could augur nothing from their dress and deportment. It was apparently an old man and a young woman — such as might be father and daughter. The tattered and patched crown cloak, ragged and shapeless hat, and almost shoeless feet of the former, would at once have proclaimed him a mendicant ; while the respectable silk mantilla, and high comb, the fresh silk of the attire, the well-turned shoes, gloved hand, and graceful gait of the latter, rather indicated a person not greatly 138 THE NEW GIL BLAS. below the middle rank of life. As my step was quicker than theirs, I speedily came up with them, — when both made a halt and turned round; but a closer view did not enable me to solve any better the enigma of this strange com- panionship. Their ages corresponded with the impression I had received in following them: the man might be fifty ; the young woman cer- tainly not twenty. In looking in his face, one might have said, sharp penury has worn him to the bone, — while the dark, roguish eyes, and pouting mouth of his companion, were full of health, smiles, and light-heartedness. Wlien the old man first cast eyes upon me, he took oflF his hat, not as a salutation, but as a sign of alms-asking, at the same time beginning, — " For the love of God, sir," — but the young girl immediately checked him by a surprised look, and a quick ^^ Padre." " Young people, sir," said he, addressing me with a new salutation, " expect impossibilities ; but old habits are not easily laid aside. Mara- quita is ashamed of me asking alms; but does not this cloak," exposing its ragged skirt, " pro- claim my poverty even " " Now, father, interrupted his daughter, did you not promise to me, that between Cadiz and Malaga " " I did, I did, my child — pardon me; — as to THE NEW GIL BLAS. 139 that gentleman, lie will scarcely believe you to be the daughter of a beggar by necessity ; but habit, I say, is soon a tyrant; — is it not, sir?" " It is, friend," said I ; " but I almost think such a daughter as yours might prove an over- match for it." " Oh, sir," interrupted Maraquita, " I do not wish to dictate to my father, — only he pro- mised that if I would be his companion in this jom-ney (for he loves me tenderly), he would not affront me on the road ; but when we arrive at Malaga, he is welcome to resume his profes- sion if it give him pleasure." " Now, sir," said the old man, " that Mara- quita has given you some notion of where the truth lies, we will not trespass upon your time ; you walk faster than we do, — and, besides, you would not like to be seen in the company of a man, who, whatever may be his real circum- stances, at any rate looks like a beggar: so, good day, — and the Virgin go with you." But I had no inclination to part company so soon : who could tell what might arise out of the acquaint- ance? and, at all events, the road would seem shorter, when chatting with this sprightly little senorita. I therefore replied, that our way seemed to He together; and that, if it was not unpleasant to him and his daughter, I should be glad to make the journey in company, as far as 140 THE NEW GIL BLAS. our roads were the same. To tliis proposal, the old man, again saluting me with an obliging air, assured me that nothing could give him greater pleasure, — and Maraquita replied to the bow I made her, with a courtesy and smile, and some quick flirtings of her fan. In this manner we reached Isla; the old man insisted upon passing through it by the narrow street that leads by the back of the town, which, in my present circumstances, I was not sorry for; and soon after turning to the right, along the road that leads to Chiclana, my companion pointed to a house by the way side, which he said was the venta where he and his daughter proposed spending the night. " I am every where well known," said he ; " you will not be worse accommodated because you arrive as my fellow-traveller." I at once assented to pass the night at the venta, and in another hour we were all three employed upon a respectable puchero, — and after making some inroads upon a skin of the best wine the house afforded, (which, in Andalusia, is the same as to say that the wine was excellent), my companion pro- posed to retire to rest : " but to-morrow," said he, " if our way should still be together, I will relate to you a little history, for I doubt not you have some curiosity to know something more of those with whom you have condescended to join company." THE NEW GIL BLAS. 141 Maraquita, at tlie conclusion of this speech, glanced on the small mirror whicli she carried along with her,* as if she would have said, that there was no such extraordinary condescension in being the galan of so charming a senorita as herself, — and mutually saluting each other, we separated for the night. Next morning, betimes, we were again on the road, with the expectation of reaching Chiclana by breakfast time, where our path would sepa- rate, — mine being towards Tarifa, with the in- tention of taking shipping from thence; and that of my companions being, as I have already said, directed to Malaga. When we had pro- ceeded a little way, talking of the pleasant morning, the fragrant shrubs that grew by the way-side, and of the attractions of Cadiz, that we had left, I reminded my companion of the kind promise he had made the night before. " My history will not occupy much time in telling," said he; " there is scarcely any one who knows it, — and if, at any future time, chance should bring us again together, I depend upon your keeping my secret, even if it be at the expense of dropping a quarto into the hat that you may then know might be filled with gold." * It is not unusual in Andalusia, for the ladies to carry a small mirror in travelling, such luxuries being unknown in the posadas and ventas. 142 THE NEW GIL BLAS. I promised obedience to his request, and as we walked leisurely on, lie spoke as follows : — " I was the youngest of six children, all boys, and our original patrimony was small. My own was soon spent in dissipation ; and as my parents were then dead, and my brothers scattered over the world, I was thrown upon my own resources. My two elder brothers were killed in the wars ; and the three others, who had each embraced the mercantile profession, established themselves in BilbaOj Barcellona, and Lisbon. When my own patrimony was wasted, I set out in quest of fortune, with little other principle than that which urged me to obtain a livelihood as I best could. Many and sore were the privations I suiFered: hunger became as familiar to me as to the houseless dog; from one stratagem I was driven to another, to obtain bread; and at length I became a common beggar. This child was then, as she is at this moment, my com- panion; her mother, whom I married before poverty was even felt, died ere it overtook me ; and many a real was given to the smiling face of the child, that was refused to the haggard looks of the father." Here the old man paused a moment in his narrative, and, albeit we were on the highway, caught his daughter in his arms, and kissed her with the utmost fervour. " This life," continued he, " precarious as it THE NEW GIL BLAS. 143 was — disreputable, perhaps, as it is — had grow- ing charms for me ; if but my child had enough to eat, and I, wherewithal to satisfy the cravings of hunger, which you know, sir, in Andalusia, is not difficult to obtain, I was contented. In my early days my passion had been gambling ; and the trade of the mendicant, when the first feel- ings of humiliation are overcome, has in it a certain excitement produced by its very preca- riousness, that in some degree assimilates it to the trade of the gambler. " Having wandered all over Castile, as well as the southern parts of Spain, I passed into Biscay, and soon arrived at Bilbao. I was totally igno- rant of the residence of any of my brethren ; I knew, indeed, that one of them had been sent to a mercantile house in that city, when not more than fourteen years old, — but where he had subsequently established himself, I had never learned. One day, soon after my arrival in Bilbao, I entered a shop, to buy, with one of the last two coins I possessed in the world, a little tobacco, which had often served me in place of bread ; it was wrapped up in a scrap of printed paper, — and, casting my eyes over it accidentally, I was attracted by observing my own name : it was an advertisement, torn from the Gaceta de Bayona, addressed to the heirs of my brother, who had died a year before. You, 144 THE NEW GIL BLAS. who have probably never been placed in my cir- cumstances (it was natural in the beggar so to presume, for, dressed as I was in the new and handsome suit purchased for Violante's bridal, I certainly did not look like one who had ever stood in need of a peseta), cannot enter into my feelings of that moment. I was, at all events, entitled to some part of his inheritance ; and I repaired, in my tattered garments, to the place to which applicants were addressed. They at jBrst laughed at me, and then imprisoned me as an imposter ; but at length they were induced to listen to me; and finally, I was admitted, after a long delay in obtaining evidence, to be the only heir of my brother — it having been ascer- tained that the other two had paid the debt of nature. I now found myself in possession of more than three millions of reals — a fortune that might enable me to live in affluence, even in the metropolis ; and thither I accordingly repaired. " At first I lived, as my fortune entitled me to live. I hired a house in the Calle de Alcala, the most distinguished street in Madrid : I par- took unreservedly in all the amusements of the city; and, for a time, thought that I had reached the summit of all that man could desire; but habit was too strong — too confirmed to permit a change in my mode of life : rich, surrounded by all the luxuries that are usually the aim of THE NEW GIL BLAS. 145 mankind, I yet sighed to be a beggar, — I was idle, and I longed for occupation. At length, after a succession of struggles, habit obtained the victory. I retired to an obscure part of the city, disguised myself in rags, and went about the streets asking charity. This is still my daily occupation, — it is a pleasure that I would not forego, for all the luxuries my w^ealth could purchase ; and I have more satisfaction in count- ing over the few pesetas I gain in my daily peregrinations, than in looking at my securities for thousands. Six months in the year I live in Madrid; and the other six months, are spent making the tour of some part of Spain. This dutiful and loving^ child has no reason to com- plain of her father, mendicant though he be, — hast thou Maraquita?" an affectionate look con- firmed the appeal, and the old man continued: " she is her own mistress ; she has money at command; she dresses as she pleases; when I return from my rounds, I sometimes throw off my ragged apparel, and take her to the bull fight, or the prado, where she enjoys herself like other young persons; and I, for my part, never grudge the suras expended upon her. Maraquita has had more than one good offer of marriage; but she prefers living with her old father, to marrying the gayest Caballero in all Spain, — dost thou not, Maraquita?" Another VOL. I. H 14G THE NEW GIL BLAS. kind look answered this second appeal, and the old man then concluded his narrative in these words : " For my own part, I would gladly see Maraquita respectably settled before I die. I cannot now have many years to live, and she shall have half of my fortune upon her wedding day; and though I be her father, I cannot but say, that whoever gets her, will have fallen upon his feet; for a better- hearted — ay, or better- looking girl does not exist in all Spain." When I found that my companion had made an end of his narrative, I expressed the strong interest it had excited in me; but it had sunk deeper into my mind than I cared at that mo- ment to avow. This, of all the adventures that had taken place since leaving my native village, seemed the most likely to be turned to account. Half of this old man's fortune was as good as a senorio; and as for Maraquita, though my acquaintance with Isabel, the Marquesa, and Violante, had rendered my taste in female beauty somewhat fastidious, she was a lively and' good- looking damsel — fresh, young, and marvellously well made. She had not, indeed, the charming languor, and bewitching air of Isabel; nor the mature, and almost faultless beauty of the Mar- quesa; nor the simple, and seductive graces of Violante; she was in fact nothing beyond una mucliacha honita; bat such as she was, I resolved to forget the charms of all others for hers. THE NEW GIL BLAS. 147 Most fortunately it so happened, tliat at the very same time that I had come to this determi- nation, Maraquita had also seen cause to waver in the resolution for which her father had lately given her credit; and had in fact almost per- suaded herself, that it was not impossible to marry, and yet to be a dutiful daughter. Ac- cordingly, when, taking advantage of a siesta which the old man was enjoying, after we had partaken of a noon-day refreshment under a spreading cork tree, 1 seated myself beside Ma- raquita, and ventured to declare the passion with which she had inspired me, I found her not indisposed to listen ; and when I told her I was in despair at the resolution which she had taken not to bestow her hand upon any suitor, she at first made no reply; but when I expostulated upon the cruelty of such a resolution, and more warmly pleaded my own passion, she at length confessed, that if she was not forced to leave her father, she was not otherwise averse from matrimony ; a confession which I foxmd no diffi- culty in crediting. In short, we made good use of our time : before the old man's siesta was over, there was so little left to settle, that when he awoke, he found his daughter ready, if a priest had been present, to change the guardianship of a father for that of a husband. When I had related to the father of my be- h2 148 THE NEW GIL BLAS. trotlied, as much of what had passed during the last half-hour, as was convenient, and had implored his blessing upon the engagements we had entered into, he offered no opposition. " Ah ! seiior," said he, " I might easily have guessed that Maraquita would not prove an ex- ception to the rest of her sex — it was selfish in me to desire it: you appear to be a discreet young gentleman; and since Maraquita has made her election, though it seems somewhat sudden, why should I stand in the way of it ? God bless you both, my children : 't will indeed be a hard struggle to part from her ; but — " " We shall never part," said Maraquita, throw- ing her arms round her father's neck; " why should we part? The Caballero would not de- sire to part us." I was about to confirm this appeal with all the willingness in the world, when the old man interrupted me. " There is time enough, my children," said he, " to settle all these things; let us at present hasten to reach Malaga, where the nuptials may take place." But as I was anxious to journey to Tarifa, rather than to Malaga; having resolved, the moment I ob- tained possession of my fortune, to retire for a time to the English settlement of Gibraltar in case of accidents, our route was changed for the latter town, towards which we journeyed, in the THE NEW GIL BLAS. 149 greatest possible spirits, — Maraquita anticipating the honours and joys of matrimony, and I anti- cipating a successful conclusion to my search after fortime : on the afternoon of the next day, we approached Tarifa. Alas, who in such cir- cumstances could have guessed the calamities that were brewing! But these must be the subject of a new chapter. CHAPTER XIL jy WHICH IT WILL BE SEEN, HOW MUCH TRUTH THERE IS IN THE SAYING, THAT " THERE 's MANY A SLIP 'tWIXT THE CUP AND THE LIP." It so happened, that the captain of a trading vessel from the Levant, whose ship had come into port a few days before, had that morning received for his cargfo the sum of four thousand crowns, which were paid him in five hundred pieces of eight, and which he put into a leathern pm-se by themselves, and taking horse, had set out that afternoon for Cadiz, in the intention of there spending his leisure time, and his spare crowns. Now as bad luck would have it, both as it concerns the traveller and me, this worthy man had proceeded but a very little way out of Tarifa, when he was set upon by some villains, who no doubt had known of the prize ; and who, after stripping him of his purse, and all his other THE NEW GIL BLAS. 151 valuables, tied liim, and laid liim among the bushes by the way-side ; but he speedily con- triving to unloose his bonds, made the best of his way back to Tarifa, and having obtained assistance, set out in search of the robbers. The day having been extremely sultry, and being now the cool of the evening, Maraquita proposed that we shoidd rest for a short space in a neighbouring thicket of algarrobos ; pro- bably that it might be dusk before we made our entry into Tarifa, — for with all her affection for her father, his patched cloak and ragged hat, as well as some dread of old habits, generally occasioned some little stratagem on her part, by which our appearance in the towns and villages that lay in our way, might be delayed until night-fall. Meantime, the unfortunate merchant who had been robbed, and his companions, were in full pursuit from Tarifa, — and with the impa- tience natural to a man who had been deprived of so considerable a sum, he had a long way headed his friends, and arrived opposite to the tlucket, not long- after we had seated ourselves in it, — and when the fine still evening, and the approaching termination of our journey, had begun to fill me with the gayest anticipations. The old man too, had just fallen into a doze, — and as I sat beside Maraquita, who had thrown 152 THE NEW GIL BLAS. aside her mantilla, and whose unloosened hair fell thickly" over her neck and shoulders, I almost thought, that with even less than one- half of the old man's fortune, I might be persuaded to stand beside her at the altar. Bat this pleasant reverie was most disagreeably in- terrupted. The anxious eye of the trading captain, rolling here and there, and piercing on every side, speedily discovered persons seated in the thicket, — and not doubting for a moment the merit of his discovery, he instantly advanced sword in hand, vociferating in the most furious manner, " Surrender yourselves, villains ! pro- duce the purse, I say, with the five hundred pieces of eight." Hearing mention made of a purse, and five hundred pieces of eight, — and knowing that I possessed such a purse, and seeing the deter- mined air of the person who had advanced with a sword of formidable length, I could not doubt his intention of depriving me of my own, — but whether as a common robber who had somehow become informed of the state of my finances, — or as one who supposed himself to haVe some claim upon the perquisite I had received from my poor friend Ramirez, I could not tell. I de- termined, however, to resist the attempt; and perceiving that it was a matter of life and death, I quickly exchanged the hand of Maraquita THE NEW GIL BLAS. 153 which I held, for the hilt of my sword, — and started to my feet. It seems to me, upon reflection, unaccount- able, that the unfortunate man should not, in approaching me, have perceived that I was not the person who had robbed him ; which I can only account for from his having thoroughly made up his mind upon the subject the moment he saw persons in the thicket, — the conviction assisted perhaps, by the deep shade of the trees,* which spread a dim twilight within. There was no time for deliberation, — my assailant, I soon found to be no stranger to the use of his weapon ; and although I at first acted entirely upon the defensive, yet the fierceness of my assailant, and his evident, and eager desire, to find the way to my vitals, naturally exaspe- rated me ; and thinking it no great matter after all, that so bloodthirsty and sordid a villain should meet with his deserts, I made a deadly thrust, and run him through the body. During the combat, the old man had stood as one stu- pified, keeping aloof from the fray ; while Ma- raquita had poured out loud lamentations, and attempted more than once to separate the com- batants ; and now that my assailant lay stone * The algarrobo, besides its utility, is one of the most beautiful of trees, full in its foliage, and rich in colour. h3 154 THE NEW GIL BLAS. dead among the rosemary bushes, I was just beginning to explain to her how totally inexpli- cable was the whole affair, when the quick tread of footsteps was heard upon the road, — and in another moment, at least half-a-dozen persons were rushing towards the thicket. Seeing the affair begin to grow serious, I judged it best to put up my sword, and accept of an escort to Tarifa. " The bloody-minded assassin !" said one of the men, " not contented with having robbed the poor merchant, he has killed him because he tried to get back his own." " The monster ! " said another. " Barbaro ! " said they all. " Gentlemen," said I, '* there is some mistake here." " Mistake, indeed !" said one. "Is n't he there, dead?" said another. " Have you not the bloody sword ia your hand?" said a third. " Ay, and the poor man's purse and his gold in your pocket, no doubt," said a fourth. " That I killed him, is true," I replied ; " but he tried to rob me, and would have killed me." " Rob you, indeed, — rob you of his own !" said one. " Pity but he had killed you," said another. " Off with him," said they all ; " 't is better he has had time to confess." THE NEW GIL BLAS. 155 During tliis parley, Maraquita liad several times tried to make lierself heard : " lie is no robber," she vociferated; " he is all but my husband." "Joy of your choice, seiiorita," said they; — and I soon found myself on the road to Tarifa witli my hands tied, — the dead merchant carried behind me, — and the old man and Maraquita also prisoners by my side. As we entered Tarifa (under somewhat dif- ferent circumstances from those pictured to oiu" minds an hour before), the people crowded around us, — the dead man at once testifying that I was an assassin ; but for the imprecations that were vented against me, I was somewhat consoled by the expressions of regret, that so comely a youth should be so near the gallows. Maraquita's smiles were all turned to tears; but I told her she had no cause to weep, or be sorrowful, because the whole aiFair was a mis- take ; and that so soon as we should be examined by the alcalde, we should be set at liberty : and in this belief, I found myself standing in the magistrate's presence. The robbery of the captain-trader was already well known throughout Tarifa, and especially to the administrators of justice; so that the alcalde at once comprehended who it was they had brought before him: it was only necessary to explain 156 THE NEW GIL BLAS. farther, that this robber was also a murderer. " We found the poor man dead at his feet," said they; " and the sword in his hand, covered with blood, — the murdered man lies in the ante- room, run through and through." I begged to be heard, — and then stated the facts precisely as they had happened ; admitting that I had killed the man, to prevent him killing me, and taking my property, — and calling upon Maraquita and her father to corroborate my statement, " This is all very well," said the alcalde, " a guilty man must say something for himself — but the affair may be cut short in a moment ; no doubt he is in possession of the purse of the unfortunate man he first robbed, and then mur- dered, — search him, — if it be found either upon him or his accomplices, there is evidence enough to hang a score." I told the magistrate I would save the trouble of a search, — at the same time throwing upon the table, the leathern purse containing my five hundred pieces of eight, which I averred to be my own. " The case is clear," said the alcalde ; " but empty the purse, and count the money." This was immediately done, and it was found to contain precisely five hundred pieces of eight. " Hardened wretch ! " said the alcalde, " I THE NEW GIL BLAS. 157 might now send you to prison ; but that your guilt may be made still more manifest, and that not a shadow of doubt may remain, I have sent for one who is able to certify that this is the purse of the murdered man." And it was now for the first time when this witness spoke, that I comprehended the danger of the situation in which I stood ; and that I learned how that the unfortunate man who had come by his death in the manner above related, had been robbed of ^ve hundred pieces of eight contained in a leathern purse. " Is it probable," said I, " that if this robbery had been committed by me, I would have re- mained almost upon the spot, fooling away the precious time that might have carried me from pursuit?" " Is it likely," asked the alcalde, in return, " that two men should at the same time and in the neighbourhood of Tarifa, have possessed leathern purses, each containing precisely five hundred pieces of eight ^ — and besides, there would be sufficient evidence against you, even if no purse had been found ; for this unfortunate man would never have attempted to regain his property by attacking a man whom he had not the very best reason to believe to be the thief." " If the murdered man could speak," said I, " he would testify, that the purse which lies there, is not his purse." 158 THE NEW GIL BLAS. " If you have none but dead men for wit- nesses," said the alcalde, " I suspect you will soon have an opportunity of chiding them for their indiiFerence ; but men don't receive purses with five hundred pieces of eight in them every day: perhaps he from whom you received yours, and who might have helped you out of your difficulty, is also dead." And such was indeed the truth — Ramirez was in no condition to assist me. " Such," replied I, " is the fact, strange as it may appear ; he from whom I received this purse, is indeed no more." " Murdered too, perhaps," said the magistrate. " Away with him ; away with him to prison." While this examination was going on, Mara- quita and her father, who were also prisoners, stood by. The latter, who no doubt began by this time to dislike the connexion, assured the alcalde, that his acquaintance with me was entirely accidental, and begged that it might now be allowed to terminate; but Maraquita, whose mind had been occupied with the con- templation of the beginning, rather than the end, of a connexion, expostulated with the magistrate upon the injustice of his conclusions ; warmly asserted my innocence; and declared, that if I must go to prison, she would follow me thither. But to this, neither the alcalde nor the father of my betrothed would consent by THE NEW GIL BLAS. 159 any means, and I was accordingly marched off to confinement, without learning whether my companions were released or not. As I was leaving the court, an escrivano whispered in my ear, that for a thousand reals, he would save me from being hanged; but I was not rich enough to bribe the rogue.* In this manner did I lose the handsome perquisite which my address in securing the prize for Ramirez had gained for me, as well as the golden prospect that was opening before me. But to all appearance, these misfortunes were not worth naming, in comparison with the greater calamity that awaited me ; for how could I hope that my story unsupported by witnesses, except by those who were looked upon as my accomplices, could gain credence against the chain of circumstances that seemed to bring the crimes home to m^ Occupied with the most gloomy anticipations, I remained in prison until the next day, when I was carried before the * Nothing is so difficult as to bring a man to trial, who has any thing in his purse, — except to bring him to execu- tion ; for money will always buy indemnity. Every thing in Spain connected with the following out of the laws, is in the hands of the escrivanos ; these are the friends of all bad men : for whatever be the action a man may commit, or meditate, he has only to confide in the escrivano, and pay for his protection. — Spain in 1830. 160 THE NEW GIL BLAS. tribunal whose business it was to judge finally of my case. Here, as I had anticipated, I found my story of no avail against the testimony of the man who had paid the murdered trader five hundred pieces of eight, and had seen him put them into a leathern purse, — corroborated as this was by the facts, that he had singled out me as the robber, and had come to his death by my hand,^ — and I was accordingly sentenced to soli- tary imprisonment for life ; a punishment, that, if the object of law be vengeance, has more to recommend it than death itself. The unfortunate persons whose crimes have subjected them to this dreadful punishment, in any of the southern parts of Spain, are most generally sent to Tarifa.* Along both sides of the port, there is a mole nearly half a mile in length; at the extremity of which on either side, and at the entrance of 'the harbour, stands a huge and ancient moorish tower, about a hun- dred and sixty feet in height above the sea. In this tower, which contains six chambers, one above another, prisoners for life are confined; and thither I was accordingly conveyed. It is the policy of the Spanish laws, to render the punishment of criminals subservient to public * A town in the straits of Gibraltar, the most southern point of the continent of Europe. THE NEW GIL BLAS. 161 utility; and this is in some degree effected even by solitary confinement. The prisoners confined in these towers are employed in turns, night by night, in trimming the lamps — which are a beacon to the vessels at sea. From each chamber, there is a separate ascent to the summit of the tower ; so that the prisoners never see each other, and each in his turn is obliged to remain from night until day-break upon the summit, — part of his punishment for the destruction of human life, being thus made subservient to its preservation. From these towers there are no visible means of escape : in the chambers, the windows are merely circular holes in walls at least six feet in thick- ness ; and the outside walls being entirely smooth, there are no means of descent from the summit unless by a fearful leap of a hundred and sixty feet into the sea; for on the side towards the town, a wall of twenty feet high shuts out the prospect of land ; serving at the same time as a hindrance to any communication, and as an aggravation of punishment, by shutting out from the eye of the prisoner, the cheerful lights of human habitations, or perhaps even, it might be, the dim view of himian forms. It only requires to be added to this description, that a ponderous iron chain stretches from one tower to the other, across the mouth of the port, depending from fastenings situated about two feet below the 162 THE NEW GIL BLAS. summit of each, but forming a curve by its own weight; and in the centre, reaching to within twenty or thirty feet of the surface of the water, from which point, other chains are attached, reaching horizontally to the towers on either side. It is needless to say, that during the day this great chain is lowered into the water when vessels desire to enter ; but at night, it is again raised; and there being rumours of war at this period, no ships were admitted during the night — the chain being a security against an enemy entering, and cutting out vessels under favour of the darkness. I will not attempt a description of my feelings when left alone in the small stone chamber, from which a speck only of the blue sky was visible through the little aperture, and where not a murmur of human life could penetrate the mas- sive walls. " Here," said I to myself, " I must remain for ever !" — the thought was enough to turn the merriest mind to sadness. I was not apt to be cast down with trifles ; but turn the thing which way I would in my mind, I could neither reconcile myself to my misfortune, nor perceive any obvious deliverance from it : yet, I could not thoroughly persuade myself, that there was for ever an end of scheming; and that I must live and die in the tower at the entrance to the port of Tarifa. THE NEW GIL BLAS. 163 When it came to my turn to watch on the summit, of which the only intimation was, the opening of the door by invisible hands, I felt the full luxury of the change. In the winter season it might be indeed a comfortless post; but as yet, the open air was milder than that in the chambers below. When I reached the summit, it was deep twilight; the lamps were already lighted, — and it was my business to watch, and trim them. The sea, and the opposite tower were alone visible ; but the prospect, gloomy as it was, I felt to be life, compared with the limited horizon of the chamber below. At first, some vessels were dimly seen through the dusk, at anchorage off the port ; but the scene was soon wrapt in darkness : it was a moonless night, and nothing was visible but the lights on the opposite tower, and occasionally the gleam of a wave, as its white crest was touched with the reflection of the watch lights. This, thought I in my own mind, as I leaned upon the wall, is a pretty way of spending the night, for a man who knows how to turn dark- ness as well as light to account ; and I bethought me of all the pleasures of Cadiz, which I had enjoyed with my unlucky preceptor who was hanged ; as well as when in the service of the Marquesa, who poisoned herself; and of the charming suppers of which I had partaken with is 164 THE NEW GIL BLAS. Violante and her guardian, and Ramirez, whose unfortunate exit was more than all to be re- gretted; since, had he been allowed to live, I might never have been perched upon a watch tower from night till morning : and this brought Maraquita to my recollection, — why, this very night might have been my wedding night ! ! ! When one object only is visible, the eyes naturally wander towards it ; I accordingly often found myself looking vaguely at the opposite tower; but my attention was arrested by per- ceiving a dark shadow at times pass to and fro, among the lights. I might have easily guessed indeed, that I had a fellow-labourer; but still, this seemed a discovery, and an agreeable one, because it diminished the feeling of loneliness. I now kept my eyes intently fixed upon the lights ; and as again the form was more revealed by the full blaze of the lamps, it suddenly oc- curred to me, that I might use the telescope which stood by me (probably for the use of the day watch), as a means of making me better ac- quainted with the figure at least, of my unfortu- nate fellow-sufferer. I accordingly, with some difficulty directed it towards the opposite tower; it was a glass of the finest construction, and as the distance was but inconsiderable, I found it completely answer my expectations. I could at once perceive, that my fellow- labourer was a THE NEW GIL BLAS. 165 female ; the form indeed, much shrouded by the habiliments suited to the performance of such a duty — but still, sufficiently revealed to leave no doubt upon this score. The head and face were hidden in the hands, and supported by the elbows resting on the knee ; so that at first, the features of the countenance were unseen ; but judge of my astonishment, when upon raising her head, the blaze of light fell upon, and revealed the well- known features of Isabel. Never before were surprise, pleasure, and pain so strangely mingled — but the last predominated. I had never alto- gether forgotten Isabel, — and with this discovery, I felt for the first time a sting of reproach, since doubtless my desertion of her had led to her apprehension, and to her punishment as the supposed murderer of her husband Andrades. I looked long and earnestly, — it was indeed Isabel — greatly altered ; but still to be recognized as her who reclined upon the sofa in Don Jose's saloon, and who rode by my side from Seville, and whose head lay upon my shoulder as we journeyed to Xeres. Alas, poor Isabel ! I might well say, to be thus employed. I would have given worlds to speak to her, and hear from her the history of her misfortune; — but this was impossible — and I was forced to be contented during the remainder of the night, with keeping my eye at the telescope, and watching her 166 THE NEW GIL BLAS. movements. At times, I almost felt, that I would have risked my life for her deliverance ; but how alas, could I scheme the deliverance of another, when my own seemed hopeless! The day had scarcely begun to break, when the door by which I reached the summit of the tower fell back, — announcing to me that the time had arrived, when I must betake myself to my chamber. The next night upon which it was again my turn to watch the lights, I mounted to the summit with alacrity; and scarcely had I reached it when I eagerly turned the telescope towards the opposite tower — but alas ! how great was my disappointment to find, that this night my fellow- sufferer was not Isabel. This was easily enough explained, on the supposition that each of the towers had not the same number of inmates ; and it was therefore impossible for me to discover when the turn of Isabel might next chance to be upon the same night as my own. This night, I was thus forced to spend in melancholy reflection, and in listening to the waves breaking upon the mole. Another night returned, and brought with it another disappointment; but upon the fourth, no sooner had I applied my eye to the telescope, than it rested upon the form of Isabel. I watched her movements — her countenance, — and she seemed so near to me, that when I THE NEW GIL BLAS. 167 whispered, — " Ah ! my poor Isabel," I fancied she could hear me pity her ; — but when I v^dth- drew my eye from the glass, this delusion fled, for I saw the dark gulf that yawned between the towers. When, after a few moments, I again applied my eye to the telescope, I was not at first able to perceive any one, — but upon a more attentive scrutiny, I discovered that Isabel was employed in the same manner, and had turned her telescope towards my tower, and was kneel- ing behind it. I immediately discontinued my scrutiny, and placed myself in the full blaze of the lights, — making at the same time, signals of recognition ; and when, after a little interval, I again sought Isabel, I had the satisfaction of seeing her instantly return the signals. It would have been no difficult matter for the human voice to be heard from tower to tower on a still night ; a slight elevation of tone would have been sufficient for this; for the distance could not greatly have exceeded three himdred yards; but the same sounds that would have reached the opposite tower, must also ha^e been heard within the port, and even on the mole. This sort of communication was, therefore, out of the question ; but anxious as I was to attain the object in some way, I still continued to ruminate upon the possibility of effecting it. While leaning over the touer, my eyes rested 168 THE NEW GIL BLAS. upon the iron chain, dimly seen suspended from tower to tower; and I almost instantly began to consider the possibility of attempting by its means to pass the gulf, and thus reach the opposite tower. My arms were sinewy, — my strength and agility great, — and courage, I had never yet found wanting. Scarcely was the scheme suggested to the mind, before it was resolved upon; and it was no sooner resolved upon, than adopted. As I raised myself upon the wall, and the next in- stant dropped upon the chain, I distinctly heard from the opposite tower a faint cry, which I made no doubt was the expression of Isabel's fears, as she watched my motions. And now I was suspended over the gulf, — pitchy darkness around, — and the black sea beneath; but I felt my arms strong, and my grasp secure, and I worked my way rapidly forward. At first, my progress was speedy and easy, for I was descending the curve, and soon reached the lower point of it, and was enabled where the smaller chains were attached to rest awhile, — standing upon one of these, and lean- ing upon the great chain. Here, I seemed to be within but a short distance of the water, whose surface gleamed faintly and tremblingly beneath: I could have dropped into it without danger, but to what purpose ? I now began to THE NEW GIL BLAS. 169 enter upon the more difficult and perilous part of my task, — ascending the chain to the opposite tower; and as I found the labour of this attempt every moment increase, I could not help feeling, that I was guilty of an act of folly, in risking life to reach one from whom I had once before voluntarily separated myself : but there was now^ no room for repentance ; and besides, I could not but feel some interest in her who I had every reason to believe had been brought into misfor- time by me ; and if this conjecture should prove correct, my doom would be rendered no worse, by declaring myself the murderer, or at least the slayer of Andrades, as my punishment was already fixed, — and thus Isabel might be restored to liberty. Occupied with such thoughts, I at length T'eached the top of the chain; and in another moment had sprung upon the summit of the tower, and stood beside the long-lost, the unfor- tunate, — the altered, but still lovely, — and as it appeared, the yet affectionate Isabel. " Ah ! barbaro," said she, as I elapsed her in my arms : but notwithstanding this salutation, I could per- ceive that ill-treatment had noways diminished her predilection for me (an enigma by the by, in the character of a woman) ; and as her tears fell abundantly upon my cheek, I could not do less than accuse myself, in terms of the bitterest VOL. I. I 170 THE NEW GIL BLAS. self-reproacli, for my cruelty in having ever abandoned so charming a creature. "Alas!" said she, "what has brought this misfortune upon you? Has the death of that monster Andrades brought you hither also ?" " It is then," said I, " as I suspected, that act of justice is the origin of your calamity: mine has not arisen from the same source — ^but from a cause for which I as innocently suffer." And I then briefly narrated to Isabel my adven- tures since parting from her, and particularly, the circumstances that had led to my imprison- ment ; taking care, however, to avoid all mention of my late engagements with Maraquita; and concluding by solemnly repeating, that when I deserted her near Xeres, it was solely from the desire of saving her from those misfortunes which I foresaw would reach lier, if she had joined her lot with mine. " And now," said I, " indulge me with the narrative of your misfor- tunes ! " Seating ourselves therefore on the stone, underneath the wall, and throwing around her the cloak which was wide enough for us both, she gave me the following brief narrative of the events subsequent to our parting on the road to Xeres. CHAPTER XIII. CONTAINING THE SEQUEL OF ISABEL S STORY, AND SHOW- ING THE GREAT ADVANTAGE OF A BAD REPUTATION, INASMUCH AS HAD I NOT BEEN TAKEN FOR THE DEVIL, I MIGHT HAVE REMAINED UNTIL THIS DAY IN THE TOWER OF TARIFA. "Alas!" said Isabel, "when I recall to my memory, tlie moment when I first discovered that 1 was abandoned by you, my tears ever flow as abundantly as they did then. The last moment I am able to recollect, previous to that dreadful discovery was, when between sleeping and waking, T dropped my head upon your breast : how long after this it might have been when I awoke, I cannot tell ; my head lay back in the chariot, which was moving rapidly, — and for some time I did not know that I was alone. I thought you were asleep, and I was unwilling to break your slumber ; but at length I spoke, — and hearing no answer, I listened more atten- tively, — and was soon convinced I was alone. i2 172 THE NEW GIL BLAS. The moment the dreadful suspicion that I was deserted flashed upon my mind, I became almost frantic ; and when, after much difficulty, I succeeded in making the muleteer hear my cries, and when from him my worst suspicions were confirmed, I immediately swooned away. It was doubtless some consolation when I reco- vered, to learn, that although abandoned by you, my welfare had not been altogether forgotten by you ; and that I was about to be restored to my friends ; yet, to my shame, perhaps, I con- fess, that my heart was occupied with your image, almost to the exclusion of my kindred. " It was on the evening of the fourth day, when I alighted at my father's gate, — but, in place of being welcomed by kind looks and happy faces, the countenances of all bespoke doubt and fear, and I had scarcely entered the house, when I was told that the whole affair was well known : — that I, in conjunction with a gallant, had murdered my husband, and had then fled, in company with my accomplice. ' I scarcely know,' said my father, ' whether I dare give you shelter, — for it is not many days since the officers of justice were here in search of you, and there is little doubt but that a second visit may be expected, so soon as it is whispered that you have returned; and who,' continued he, ' is this gallant who has led you to forget THE NEW GIL BLAS. 173 your duty to God and to your husband?' and, then wiping away the tears which my father's insinuation had called into my eyes, I gave him an exact detail of every thing that had happened — of the cruelties of the monster Andrades, and of the manner in which you delivered me from them — and how we afterwards fled — and how you cruelly deserted me; and when I had finished my relation, he complimented you upon your valour in having so adroitly rid the world of Andrades — called me indiscreet in running away with you — and highly extolled your con- duct in sending me back. ' For a while,' said he, ' you shall be kept concealed, until the thing be forgotten ; you know that you were betrothed to another at the time Don Jose forced you to the altar, — and I see no reason why you should remain a widow longer than inclination prompts you;' but I vowed, in my own mind, that after having been deserted by you, nothing should tempt me to become the wife of another; but that I would rather become an inmate of the convent of Santa Monica. " For more than a month I remained true to this resolution ; but at length, the importunities of him to whom I had been first betrothed, pre- vailed. Do not imagine, that in going to the altar with another, I had forgotten you ; but you must allow that there was something equivocal 174 THE NEW GIL BLAS. in my situation ; and tliis — marriage alone could remove : and, besides, there was no reason to hope that I should ever cast my eyes upon you again ; for I had little doubt but that you would think it safest to leave Spain, which I only wish the good God had put into yoiu- head, — although it would have been the cause of de- priving me of this interview. " We now began to think that Andrades had been forgotten, as he deserved to be; and that the notoriety of my nuptials would scarcely re- vive the story. But alas ! in this hope we were cruelly deceived. The priest — the same who had advised me to marry Andrades, and to whom the death of that odious monster proved a de- privation of many advantages, present and pro- spective, determined to avenge the death of his patron, from whose heir he could expect no favour, as he had made himself obnoxious to him during Andrades' life, by many acts of tyranny. Accordingly, I had been a wife only one week, Avhen, in the middle of the night, I was torn from the arms of my husband, and carried to Seville. I did not greatly love my husband, for your image was still uppermost in my mind; but he was kind, and passionately fond of me; and when I tell you that he first made an impression upon my heart before I was fifteen, I need scarcely say, that in personal THE NEW GIL BLAS. 175 appearance he was more the opposite of An- drades, than any one I have ever seen excepting yourself. " I now approach the conclusion of my nar- rative. I was found guilty of assisting to murder my husband, and condemned to solitary impri- sonment for life, in the tower of Tarifa. Here I have been confined for more than a year ; but in place of becoming accustomed to solitude, and reconciled to it, my doom becomes every day more intolerable. Many times I have been on the point of throwing myself into the sea, — but my womanish fears have alwaj^s proved stronger than my wretchedness : it would be a fearful leap ; yet I believe I may some time find coiu-age, — and I hardly think God will punish me for delivering myself from a state of misery that can end only with life. And yet, even this place might be endurable, if you were to remain with me, — surely you will not leave me, to cross that frightful gulf to-night." — And as Isabel thus finished her narrative, and pressed closer to me, I felt, that, although far from agreeable to so- journ in such a place, even with Isabel, this would yet be greatly preferable to solitude. But to such a project, many serious difficulties pre- sented themselves : I represented to Isabel, that if I did not reach the opposite tower that night, it would be discovered, when tlie food put into 176 THE NEW GIL BLAS. my cell remained untasted, that I was gone; and as tlie conclusion would necessarily be, that I had leaped into the sea, no more food would be put into my cell, and consequently, when I did return, I should die of hunger. " But," said Isabel, " why return ever? Providence seems to delight in throwing us together, — and if, as unhappily seems too true, the doom of both of us be to live and die in these towers, why should we not " " Live and die together, you would say ; " and, in truth, there was reason in this proposal of Isabel. " Why, indeed, should we not?" said I; but in yielding so readily to this sug- gestion, I looked farther than Isabel did. Isabel had doubtless many charms, — and here, I should at least have nothing to fear from rivals; but that which weighed with me fully as much as the prospect of a honey-moon, was this, — that a man who is supposed to be dead, has greater facilities of escape, — and so, without at that time saying any thing upon this subject to Isabel, I acquiesced in the proposal of changing my quarters, and being her guest for the pre- sent. An affectionate squeeze of the hand was the prompt reward of my compliance; and the remainder of the night, which was calm and balmy, was spent as much to our mutual satis- faction as was compatible with the circum- stances in which our re-union took place. THE NEW GIL BLAS. 177 " There cannot be a doubt," said Isabel, " that the Pope has long ago been applied to by my husband to dissolve our marriage." " And that his holiness has granted the peti- tion, too," said I. " And although ours be a new case, as it probably never happened before that the idea of marrying was entertained by persons in solitary imprisonment, — yet as there is here neither church nor priest. Heaven will, without doubt, accept our vows, and bless us :" and thus did I become all but the husband of Isabel. Several days elapsed before it was again the turn of Isabel to watch on the summit; mean- time the food that was intended for one, was made to suffice for two ; we conversed in whis- pers, lest my embryo plan of escape should be frustrated by a premature discovery of my dwell- ing place ; and even if I had looked to no ulte- rior advantages, from my change of quarters, the society of Isabel would have been a suffi- cient reward for the peril of my journey. But I had now concocted in my mind, a plan of escape, which I hastened to put in execution, after having first communicated it to Isabel, whose co-op eratioti was necessary to ensure its success. It may have been already gathered, that the characteristic of the punishment of solitary con- i3 178 THE NEW GIL BLAS. finement in the towers of Tarifa, consisted in the rigidness with which it was enforced : once admitted there, and no human eye ever more rested upon the living form of the prisoner. The food necessary for the preservation of life, and therefore, for the continuance of punish- ment, was placed, and removed, by unseen hands; nor was the sound of a human voice ever heard within these stone chambers. But to this, one exception was provided: although it was the policy of the law, to punish the living culprit thus severely, the church did not resign her claims to the care of his soul; once accord- ingly, in every month, a holy tread was heard along the secret passages, and an iron screen being thrown back, the confessor, a Franciscan friar, took his seat at a thick grating; behind which nothing could be seen, though the con- fession of the prisoner might pass to the ear of the holy man, and his counsel in return reach the ear, or it might be, the heart, of the solitary criminal. The door by which the prisoner first entered was never imbarred, until the hour when his coffin was carried in and out. The day now approached, when the visit of the confessor might be expected, and I laid my plans accordingly, and executed them in the following manner: — "Isabel," said I, as the slow tread announced THE NEW GIL BLAS. 179 the approach of the confessor, " you must feigu to be dead; spread the pallet opposite to the grating', and lay yourself upon it." I found some difficulty in prevailing upon Isabel to mock the king of terrors ; but, at length, I succeeded in persuading her, — by re- presenting that it was easier to comiterfeit deatli than to meet it ; and that to do the one, afforded the only chance of avoiding the other ; and scarcely was Isabel extended upon the floor, when the screen was heard to open upon its harsh hinges, and the confessor to say, " erring daughter, approach." " Father," said I, in a low sepulchral tone, at the same time advancing noiselessly towards the grating. "Holy St. Francis," said the confessor, in a voice of terror, and making at the same time a retrograde movement from the grating, " 't is a man ! " " Father," said I, in the same unearthly tone, " fear nothing, it is no man that addresses thee; well thou knowest that no fleshly form can gain entrance here ; it is not a man, but a spirit, •with whom thou art communing." As I spoke thus, I could hear the Friar rapidly commending himself to the protection of the Holy Mother of God, and of all the Saints; and I continued, " She whom thou camest to confess, is now 180 THE NEW GIL BLAS. beyond the reacli of thy counsel: her soul has gone to its heavy account, and her body lieth there;" said I, gliding aside, and knowing well, that although nothing could be seen from the cell through the grating, yet all within was visible from the other side. " I am the ghost of the murdered Jose Andrades;" and at the same time that I made this announcement, I threw back a part of the hood that covered my face, and the dim light from the circular hole falling upon the upper part of the countenance, showed a visage which fasting and confinement had already made more like the face of a dead than of a living man, and which I had taken care to besmear with blood. A new exclamation of horror, and still more rapid prayers, followed this revelation. " Here," continued I, again drawing the hood over my face, and approaching the grate — from which I could hear the Friar retreating; " here will I remain, in dread communion with the body of my murderer, until it be taken hence : delay not to let this be done, else I will speak with thee nearer anon." The Friar being already as near to the ghost of a murdered man as he probably desired to be, and willing to prevent the execution of this threat of a nearer colloquy, swung the screen forward, which closed with a tremendous clank, and the THE NEW GIL BLAS. 181 rapid footsteps of the terrified confessor speedily died away. " Ah, Dios ! " said Isabel, " I had scarcely courage to go through my part : when you spoke of my soul having gone to its account, I was on the point of rising, to convince myself that I was yet lining." " Surely," returned I, " you may find cou- rage to personate a dead woman, when I have no hesitation in personating the ghost of a murdered man; the stratagem succeeds; you wiU have but once more to play your part ; and I am much mistaken if we be not both outside of this tower before another day shall pass over our heads ;" and animated by this hope, Isabel promised to obey my directions. Now, it will easily be beKeved, that the con- fessor, upon leaving the tower, would imme- diately communicate to the civil and spiritual authorities, the particulars of the extraordinary interview that had taken place ; and that although doubts might at first be entertained of the sanity of the narrator, yet, that his positive asseve- rations would at length so far weigh with the alcalde, and the bishop of Ronda, who then chanced to be making his yearly visitation to Tarifa, as to induce them to judge with their own eyes, of the truth of what had been told to them. I was prepared for this ; and when 182 THE NEW GIL BLAS. in less than three hours, the iron screen was heard to fall back, Isabel was again stretched upon the ground, while I stood motionless by her side. Who were the persons that peered through the grate, I am unable to tell, but whoever they might be, they were quickly satisfied with their scrutiny ; for when I glided towards the grate, at the same time allowing the hood to fall partially back, the screen was suddenly closed, and quick retiring footsteps an- nounced the further success of the stratagem. However extraordinary the thing might seem, and however hard of belief, no doubt could any longer rest upon the minds of those whom first duty, and then incredality, had led to the tower, that something supernatural inhabited the chamber where lay the dead Isabel. Her, they had seen extended on the floor ; and they had seen another being, which could not be a mortal, because well they were convinced no mortal could gain entrance there. That it was the ghost of him who had been murdered by the inmate of the cell, no one could doubt ; and the sooner therefore the body of the wretched prisoner could be carried out, the sooner Avould this spirit cease to haunt the tower of Tarifa. It was in this manner therefore, that the affair was argued by the confessor, the bishop, and the alcalde, among whom the following colloquy took place. THE NEW GIL BLAS. 183 " I suppose, gentlemen," said the confessor, " you are now sufficiently convinced that I have told you no tale." " Sufficiently convinced," said the alcalde ; yet breathless with fear. " There is no doubt of it," said the bishop ; panting from the rapidity of his descent from the tower. " Why," rejoined the confessor, " I was as near to it as I am to you ! " shuffling up close to the alcalde's nose. " Ah, Dios ! " said the alcalde, drawing invo- luntarily back. " 'T is certainly," said the bishop, " a stain upon the sanctity of this catholic town, that a thing of this kind should have taken place ; tlie quieter the affair is kept, the better; no doubt, sen or alcalde, a coffin can be prepared to-night, to carry away the body; those wlio carry it, must know nothing of what we have seen ; and you, as chief magistrate, will super- intend the removal." " Truly," said the alcalde, " 't is a duty I would rather avoid : I am a poor sinful man, ill fitted to grapple with the powers of darkness : whereas holy men, like ray lord bishop and tlie good friar, can have nothing to fear." " I fear notliing," said the confessor. " Oh, we fear nothing," said the bishop ; 184 THE NEW GIL BLAS. " and it does seem to me, that tlie reverend father cannot well be excused taking a part in this duty, as he is in some sort under an engage- ment to the evil spirit (crossing himself) to see it executed." " But," rejoined the friar, " would it not be felt by us all to be a great security, were we in this emergency to make use of the reKcs which are deposited in the church of San Salvador, — and which no one, save the bishop, is worthy to handle?" " 'T is an excellent suggestion," said the alcalde. Now the bishop, desirous no doubt of paying a compKment to the alcalde and the friar by intrusting these sacred relics to their care, in place of taking upon himself the honourable office of being their bearer, said : — " The relics are indeed efficacious in cases of this nature; and while handling them, the greatest smner upon earth has nothing to fear from an interview with any spirit. I possess the power of dele- gating to whom I will, the high honour of bearing these relics, — and into your hands, gen- tlemen, I will jointly commit them; and while you are engaged in the performance of your duty, I will invoke for you the protection of our tutelary saint." Such, I say, was the colloquy that took place THE NEW GIL BLAS. 185 between the bishop, the alcalde, and the friar, — and when this proposal was made by the bishop, there can be no question that the fears of the alcalde were greatly allayed ; and that the qualms even of the friar were in some degree quieted — so great was the confidence placed in the virtues of the relics. Meanwhile, the hours passed away, and night came. I entertained little doubt, that this very night the coffin would be sent for Isabel; trust- ing to the efficacy of the threat held out to the confessor ; and I prepared accordingly. " You will have nothing to do, Isabel," said I, " but to follow close at my heels." In thus providing for the escape of Isabel, I confess it was chiefly a regard for my own safety that prompted me to this. A sojourn of between one and two weeks in the tower, upon half the miserable pittance of a prisoner, had greatly cooled the fever of my love ; and I foresaw that a companion would, in no small degree, interfere with my projects of independence, and might even perhaps lessen the chances of my ultimate escape, — but then, if Isabel were left behind, or could be prevailed upon to allow herself to be put into her coffin, it was too much to expect of her, that she would permit it to be consigned to the earth without giving some audible demonstration of being alive; and if one part of the trick were detected, threats 186 THE NEW GIL BLAS. or punishment would soon discover all tlie other parts of it; and my recapture would no doubt be the consequence. Besides — for why should I conceal the virtuous movements of my mind — I felt a repugnance in leaving Isabel to perpetual imprisonment, or to the chance of being buried alive; but feeling at the same time, that if suc- cessful in delivering her from confinement, I should in that case have sufficiently acquitted myself of obligations, and satisfied my scruples, I resolved that upon the first favourable oppor- tunity I would dispose of Isabel, and recover my independence. And now, the crisis was at hand. Slow, heavy steps, as of persons carrying a burden, were heard approaching : other, and more hesitating steps, mingled with these. At length they reached the massive iron door, and the burden was put down. The thickness of the door was too great, to permit the words spoken without to be heard within ; but for some time the monotonous sound of a voice continued— ^-doubt- less, a prayer of length and. efficacy by the Franciscan. The voice ceased; the chains and bolts were one by one withdrawn; the door slowly swung back, and a glare of flambeaux flashed into the cell. Isabel lay on the pallet, while I stood motionless in the middle of the floor — my face turned towards the door, and my THE NEW GIL BLAS. 187 hood partly thrown back. No sooner did the light reveal my figure, than the coffin-bearers, uttering an afirighted scream, made but one step from the top to the bottom of the stair-case : for a moment the alcalde and the friar, who partly expected what they saw, and who partly trusted to tlie protection of the relics which they held in their hands, stood their groimd ; crossing them- selves with great rapidity, and muttering prayers the while ; but upon the first movement I made towards them, they followed the coffin-bearers with so much precipitancy, that in their eager- ness which should be the first, both rolled down the stairs, and the flambeaux falling from their trembling hands, were extinguished. " Now is the time," said I in a whisper; and I quickly descended the stair-case, followed by Isabel. By the light of a smothered flambeau, I could perceive that the alcalde and the friar lay senseless, whether from fear or from wounds, I could not tell. The friar's habit had somehow slipped off" his shoulders; and thinking it might be useful as a disguise, I picked it up, and stumbling also upon one of the boxes of relics, I hid it in my bosom : there was no obstacle to our escape — the doors all stood open; and in a few moments we found ourselves outside of the tower, while the retreating steps of the coffin- bearers were heard dying away in the distance. 188 THE NEW GIL BLAS. We lost not a moment's time, but immediately proceeded quickly along the mole, which we had all to ourselves; the terrified coffin-bearers had no doubt spread the alarm, for as we approached every post was in its turn abandoned; the alarmed sentinels throwing down their weapons, and flying before us ; and I took care not to neglect the opportimity of arming myself against need, with a good sabre. When we reached the end of the mole next to the town, we scrambled down upon the sea- beach; the moon, which was on the wane, had then risen, and just tipped the curling waves with a long line of silver, as they broke with a low plash upon the smooth sand: and as we walked onward, leaving Tarifa behind us, the following conversation took place. " Isabel," said I, " we are now fairly out of that cursed tower, and our endeavour must be to keep out of it." " Well," replied Isabel, " we are taking the best means to do this, — for we are walking from it as fast as we can." " True," rejoined I ; " but it is so short a time since I was convicted at Tarifa, that if I am not, before day-break, at a great distance from it, it is more than likely that I may be recognised ; as for you, you are in no sort of danger, — for the general belief must doubtless be, tliat the devil THE NEW GIL BLAS. 189 carried you away, — and what the devil gets, he generally keeps. Now my adHce is this, — as we cannot hope to escape in companj^, let us sepa- rate for the present; — you know you have a husband ; and now that you are restored to the world, his rights must be respected. God forbid that I should interfere with them ; though it will indeed be a sad thing to part from you — " " But," interrupted Isabel, " I understood that—" " Yes, yes, I know what you would say ; but now that we are at liberty, the sanction of the church is required, and the church could not sanction our marriage, since you have a husband already : take my advice, and this purse of gold along with it (it was one of those received from the duped artists) : seek Valenzuela — your hus- band, if he loves you, will readily forgive whatever has contributed to restore you to his arms : in a year, I will visit you there, — and if in the meantime you should have the misfortune to be made a widow, I pledge myself to renew at the altar, the a^om^s I pronounced in the tower of Tarifa." Whether it was that Isabel, thankful to God for her deliverance, felt that a return to her hus- band was a religious duty; or, that the same causes which had abated the fervour of my love, had also influenced her's ; or that looking around 190 THE NEW GIL BLAS. her, while the dull moonlight fell upon the soli- tary shore, she felt an insecurity in the protection of one who owed his present freedom to his impiety in counterfeiting a spirit, I cannot pretend to determine, — but certain it is, my proposal was not received with so much aver- sion as I expected. " I will not diminish your chances of escape," said she, " by remaining with you;" — a motive of disinterestedness to which it was impossible I could give credit, though I nevertheless affected to believe it; and after walking about two leagues farther, we sat down under a lofty rock, to wait the break of day, which was also to be the hour of separation. In little more than two hours, the stars began to turn pale, — the corner of the moon dipped into the sea, — and the opposite mountains of Barbary began to rise out of the gloom. I parted from Isabel, promising again and again to visit Valenzuela, — ^she, dropping one or two tears, — and both, murmuring many adieus. I saw her disappear above the cliff, and I was left alone. CHAPTER XIV. SHOWING THAT SMALL OCCURRENCES ARE OFTENTIMES THE HINGE UPON WHICH GREAT EVENTS TURN, AND ALSO PROVING, THAT COURAGE AND GOOD FORTUNE MAY AC- COMPLISH ANY THING. I HAD not as yet determined upon any plan for the future; but I felt little anxiety respecting it. I was again free, and my own master ; and although my four thousand crowns were now in the pockets of the imfortunate merchant's heirs ; and although I had given one purse to Isabel, I still possessed another, the gift of one of the rival painters, containing fifty pieces; I yet retained the jewels which Isabel had presented to me at Seville ; as well as the diamond ring, the gift of the Marquesa; and besides these, t had just made myself master of a box of relics, the value of which, in a proper market, might possibly be a fortune of itself. Recapture seemed the most imlikely thing in the world; for he who had been imprisoned as the murderer of the 192 THE NEW GIL BLAS. trader, was believed to have perished in the sea; and the ghost of Andrades was no subject for pursuit : and this reminded me, tiiat having no farther occasion for my present disguise, the blood stains might as well be washed away, and so making shift with salt water, I stooped down, and restored my complexion to its natural hue ; and putting on the habit of the Franciscan, con- tinued my journey along the sea-beach. I had not proceeded very far, before I per- ceived in the grey of the morning, two men in the act of shoving off from shore a little boat, which had been drawn up into a narrow creek into which I had just turned; and two other men were visible at a little distance hurrying away from the beach, all of whom I at once concluded to be smugglers. I immediately hal- looed to the boatmen; who, upon perceiving me, suspended their labours, and waited my approach. " Gentlemen," said I, making a polite obeisance, but taking care not to lift my hat from my head, that the want of a tonsure might not be dis- covered, and at the same time drawing my habit closely round me, " you see before you a poor friar of Velez Malaga, who has made the pil- grimage of the world, and who is now returning to his native place with a box of relics which he has had the good fortune to pick up, and which are designed for an offering to the church of the Holy Sepulchre." THE NEW GIL BLAS. 193 At the mention of relics, and again at this pause, the smugglers crossed themselves de- voutly ; as it was natural to suppose they would. " I have travelled all night," continued I, " and am weary of my journey ; and although God knows I have been more accustomed to receive than to give; yet I have one or two pieces to bestow upon honest men who will assist one of God's servants to speed upon his way." I plainly perceived, that my safety among these men depended upon my disguise ; and that my assumption of poverty, and a saintly character, could alone preserve me from out- rage, by lulling cupidity, and exciting super- stition. " Why, as for that," said the elder of the two men, "your reverence is welcome; your reverence, and the holy relics you speak of, will doubtless bring us safe to a port ; we 're bound for Malaga, in that mystico you see yonder; and from Malaga you will have but four leagues to Velez Malaga;" and the next moment, we w-ere pulling off shore towards the mystico, which lay about half a league from land. " This is the first time," said the younger of the men, as we pushed off, "we have ever had God's blessing upon our cargo." VOL. I. K 194 THE NEW GIL BLAS. " Peace," said the other, " or I '11 make it all the lighter by the weight of your carcass." We then continued to row in silence, until we neared the mystico ; where, upon deck, another man stood waiting our approach; the harsh and ruffian-like cast of his countenance being strangely mingled with wonder, at seeing his companions accompanied by a friar. As we stepped on board, the elder of the rowers spoke a few words in a low key, and in the Andalusian dialect, to his wondering shipmate, who immediately crossed himself, — no doubt at mention of the relics. The conversation among the smugglers con- tinued in an under tone; but I could perceive well enough, that I was frequently the subject of it. At length, the man who had been left in the mystico, turning to me, said, " Perhaps your reverence would indulge us seafaring men with a sight of these blessed relics, which my comrade tells me you have the good fortune to possess; 'tis not every day that we have an opportunity of seeing such things." This request was not difficult to grant: I was not then aware of the reason why it was made, but put it down to mere curiosity ; and although I knew just as little as my companions did what the box contained, having only seen that it was marked "reliquias," I produced it THE NEW GIL BLAS. 195 without hesitation ; aware, however, that I must show a perfect acquaintance with the history of the articles contained in it. Drawing the box accordingly from under my habit, while the three smugglers stood round me, I took off the lid, and drew forth a bit of stone — the first of the relics I laid my hands upon. " This, gentlemen," said I, " is a chip off the stone that was rolled back from the mouth of the Holy Sepulchre." " Jesus, Maria ! " said all three, devoutly crossing themselves. " And this," said I, next laying my hand upon a small piece of rotten wood, " is a fragment of the rudder which belonged to the ship in which Jesus taught, on the sea of Tiberias." " And this," drawing forth another piece of wood, "is part of the stake at which Saint — Saint Penaflor suffered martyrdom ;" for having forgotten the names of the saints who had been thus honoured, and being afraid to fix upon any of the well-known saints, I canonized the name of my native village, which happened just then to come to my recollection. " Saint Penaflor," said one of the listeners, " I never heard of that saint." " He is not in my calendar," said another. "Oh, but," said I, "he is a most distin- guished saint for all that, and well worthy of our devotion;" at the same time kissing the K 2 196 THE NEW GIL BLAS. relic, and handing it to my companions, who also kissed it. There was now but one relic remaining ; and whatever it was, it was neatly folded in several pieces of paper, — but when I opened the inner- most of them, nothing was to be seen : this was a difficulty ; but determined not to fail in the latter end, I said, " In this paper, gentlemen, are two of the hairs of her, who, after anointing the feet of our Saviour with a costly ointment, wiped them dry with the hair of her head." Many were the signs of devotion that fol- lowed this announcement ; and the noses of the smugglers almost touched the paper, in their anxiety to see so precious a relic. " Gentlemen," said I, " it is possible you may be unable to see these hairs; they are so fine as to be descried only by the eye of faith ; for my own part, I am sometimes unable to distin- guish them, so frail and wavering is faith, — but now, the sight of these holy relics has so warmed my devotion, that they seem to me almost as thick as ropes." " Que milagro ! !" said they all three, looking yet more closely ; " truly a precious relic." But while I had thus been sustaining my character as a friar, and increasing, as I ima- gined, the reverence of my companions for my sacred character, which I thought essential to THE NEW GIL BLAS. 197 the safety of both my person and my property, I had been unconsciously inflaming their cupidity. In their eyes, the sacredness of my person was lost in the greater sacredness of the relics ; and that, which by my own account it had cost me a pilgrimage round the world to collect, was naturally conjectiu'ed to be a prize worth the capture. But the conclusions come to upon this subject by the two elder of the smugglers, and their consequent determination, will be best understood if given in their own words. During all the day, the mystico had kept on its course through the straits of Gibraltar, — carried forward not by the wind, for it was almost a calm, but by the current that always sets into the Mediterranean. The smugglers had continued to talk to each other, sometimes in good Castilian, — and sometimes in low Anda- lusian; and it appeared that the youngest of the three understood but imperfectly the latter dialect. I could easily perceive that I was fre- quently the subject of their discourse; and that the youngest of the smugglers did not agree in opinion with his companions, — and as the night began to close in, I could not help feeling some suspicions of my safety, and considerable anxiety for our arrival at port. The mystico, although small, is a decked vessel ; containing a hold, used for stowing away smuggled goods, 198 THE NEW GIL BLAS. and a small cabin, in which are generally several beds. When it grew dark, I lay do^yn upon deck, asking permission to draw an old sail over me, which was accorded, after having offered me a berth below, — but this being declined by me on the score of conscience, (having, as I said, made a vow never to sleep under cover), the smugglers did not press it ; probably fearful of exciting my suspicions. I soon pretended to fall asleep, — and after a little while, the follow- ing conversation took place between the two elder smugglers, who carried it on in an under tone, and in low Andalusian, with the design, as I afterwards learned, of excluding their com- panion from any share in it. "Well, Bernardo," said one of the smug- glers, — he who had carried me from shore, — " what is my share to be ?" " Why, Lopez," replied his companion, " 'tis time enough to settle that when the box is fiUed with doubloons in place of relics ; how can we divide four relics among three?" " Easily," returned the first speaker ; " my advice is, not to part with the piece of the rudder; 'twill help us no doubt in many a rough sea, — and speedy voyages M'ill make up to us more than twenty times its price in doubloons ; and as it is owing to me, that the prize is secured, I have a good right to choose first ; Santa Maria, 't was a lucky hit ! " THE NEW GIL BLAS. 199 "There's no denying," said Bernardo, "that you 've the best right to choose, — which then is your 'choice?" " You yield me the choice then," said Lopez. " Why not," replied the other, "you've the best right to choose ; and, for my part, I shordd not know which to set the highest value upon." " 'T is a bargain, then," said Lopez. " I choose the two hairs;" — and a half-smothered laugh announced the advantage he thought he had gained over his companion. "Hush with your foolery," returned Ber- nardo, " you '11 awake the friar — what is there to laugh at ; if your 'e pleased with your choice, so am I." " Handsomely duped are you," said Lopez ; "do you think the bishop of Malaga will believe you, if you tell him that the chip of stone is a part of the stone that was rolled back from the Holy Sepulchre ; or that piece of wood, a part of the stake at which the saint suffered martyrdom? though no doubt they both are; I don't doubt it, — holy Mary preserve me from such sin ! but how, I say, do you suppose the bishop of Malaga will believe such as you?" " By all the saints," said Bernardo angrily, " I '11 teach you to make a distinction between your word and mine;" at the same time thrust- ing his hand into his girdle. 200 THE NEW GIL BLAS. " It is my turn now to say Imsli," said Lopez. " I make no distinction between your word and mine ; but between your word and the bishop's eye-sight." " How so," said Bernardo, " can the bishop see hairs better than wood and stone ? " " No," returned his companion ; " but all the smugglers in Andalusia can see stone and wood as well as his lordship; whereas, the hairs are to be discerned only by the eye of faith ; and, while to the bishop they will appear like ropes, his highness' servants will not be able to see them any more than you or I, and so my word need never be asked upon the subject; because the truth of what I shall tell the bishop will be at once proved by a miracle ! — what think you now of my choice?" "I think so well of it," said Bernardo, "that, with your leave, I 'm off with the bargain." "I might dispute that," said Lopez, — "but we had best not quarrel about the spoil till it be ours; Paulo will not assist us; nay, I am not sure that he will not take part with the friar, who, if he be as active as he is strong limbed, is a match for one of us ; and who can tell but an attempt to take — " "I tell you," interrupted Bernardo, "'tis a pious act to take the relics to Malaga; and as for the means, — why the bishop will be so glad THE NEW GIL BLAS. 201 to get tliem, that you may rest assured of abso- lution, — 'tis not the first time you've stood so much in need of it. Let us say nothing more to Paulo; but agree to do it at the third watch: his is the first watch, — your's the second, — mine the last; and when you call me, then will be the time, for we shall be together; and Paulo asleep below, — 'tis but securing the box, and tossing him overboard." " And, I '11 warrant," added Lopez, "that his purse is not so light as he pretends; he has not shown these rehcs round the world for nothing." " 'T is time," said Bernardo, " to set the first watch; let 's to our vespers." And so the two smugglers, having sung a hymn to the Virgin, — in which Paulo joined, and said their evening prayers, retired to their cabin, — leaving Paulo to watch on deck. It may well be believed, that during the fore- going conversation, my feelings were not the most enviable; escape from the vessel was im- possible ; and escape from the doom preparing for me, seemed nearly, if not altogether as hope- less. The two smugglers were in the prime of life ; as iron limbed as they were iron hearted ; both well armed, — and two to one besides. There was reason to believe, indeed, from what had passed between the smugglers, that Paulo K 3 202 THE NEW GIL BLAS. was of a different character; and, although he could not understand much of the conversation, there could be no doubt that he was aware of the wicked intentions of his comrades ; but then the attempt was not to be made until Paulo should be asleep; and, besides, however well- disposed he might be, it was evident that his authority was less than that of his companions, and his personal strength was also greatly in- ferior to theirs. Meanwhile, Paulo had taken his station upon deck, and paced slowly to and fro; sometimes pausing for a moment as he reached the spot where I lay. I still pretended to sleep; but after a considerable time had elapsed, I gave some slightly audible indications of being awake : the next time Paulo reached me, he made a full stop ; I raised my head, and could perceive by the star-light,— for the moon had not then risen, — that he made some sign to me ; and upon rising to my feet, he pointed first below, — and then imitated the action of throwing a burden into the sea. The sign would have been sufficiently significant even if I had not already been too well informed of the intention of the smugglers ; and now, having no reason to doubt the friendly disposition of Paulo, however small might be his power of serving me, I imdid the girdle that bound my habit, and throwing it aside, showed THE NEW GIL BLAS. '20S him the sabre, which I partly unsheathed. He again pointed below, — touched his ear, — and made a sign for me to conceal the weapon, — and then continued his walk upon deck, while I seated myself at the stern, and began to con- sider in what manner I might resist the attempt tliat was to be made upon me, with the greatest probability of success. " This is but a poor exchange for the tower of Tarifa," I said to myself mentally : " a pretty conclusion truly to all my excellent contrivances, to be thrown overboard like a piece of lumber.'"' So small did my chances of escape seem to be, that I at one time entertained the idea of offering to give up the relics, bargaining to be put on shore any where the smugglers might choose ; but this I again considered, might give rise to new suspicions ; and after being stript of what I possessed, might I not after all be dropped un- derneath. I then cast my eyes upon the little boat, \\-hich I saw through the gloom, dancing behind the mystico ; but if my escape in it were discovered, this would be certain destruction, because the mystico could be worked by oars as well as by sail, and if overtaken I could ex- pect no mercy; but upon looking more closely at the boat, I missed the oars, and immediately recollected that these had been taken into the vessel. This idea was therefore necessarily aban- 204 THE NEW GIL BLAS. doned. " After all," said I to myself, " 't is but two to one; and the darkness is in my favour, since I am prepared for the attempt." It may be supposed that, occupied witli these thoughts, I did not dispose myself for sleep ; but wearied with thinking, and with the exertions of the preceding night, I at length fell into a slum- ber. How long it continued, I cannot tell; but I was awoke by some one gently pushing me : it was Paulo, who was about to resign the watch to Lopez ; and who thus kindly roused me from a sleep that must have been fatal. He descended to the cabin, and his place was immediately taken by Lopez ; who, when he first came upon deck, stood for a while motionless, evidently listening, that he might ascertain whether I slept ; which I need scarcely say, I feigned to do. Mean- while, the wind began to rise, — the moon which had been sometime risen, was almost obscured by the clouds that sped swiftly across the sky, — the broad-backed waves began to put on their cowls, and the little vessel went swiftly through the water. Lopez, after reefing the sails and making fast the helm, drew his cloak closer round him, — pulled his cap over his ears, and leaned over the vessel's side upon his crossed arms. While Lopez stood thus, a sudden thought darted into my mind; " why wait the expira- THE NEW GIL BLAS. 205 tion of this watcli ! — why wait the assault of two men, when here is only one to contend with ! — why not be the assailant?" Lopez stood not many paces distant from me, — still leaning over the vessel; he evidently believed that I was asleep ; one spring wovdd place me by his side ; but still it would be man to man, — and the smallest struggle would bring Bernardo to his assistance. Why even risk the event of a struggle ? a deadly struggle for life upon equal terms, with a man who was leagued with a con- federate to throw me overboard ! his back was turned tow^ards me ; the noise of the wind fand waves would effectually prevent any trifling sound from being heard ; in another moment he might change his position, and my opportunity would be lost for ever ! I hesitated no longer : trust- ing to the welcome gust that had just risen, — to my caution, — to my quickness, and to my physical strength to peril the event on a struggle, if necessary, I crept from my place, — slid noise- lessly along the deck, — and at the moment that a rack of clouds drove against the moon, and a huge wave swept with a deafening rush along the side of the vessel, I rose silently behind Lopez; and at the same instant, seizing him round the lower part of the body, pitched him headlong into the sea: — there was no struggle, the act was momentary; one hoarse imprecation, 206 THE NEW GIL BLAS. as I flung him from me; and a cry of " Bernardo" faintly heard through the roar of wind and wave, were all : the vessel bounded forward from the summit of a huge billow ; and if any other cries were uttered by Lopez, they reached no human ear. One enemy was thus disposed of: I stepped softly to the head of the ladder, and listened at- tentivel)^, but all was still below ; the appeal, or imprecation of Lopez had not reached the ear of Bernardo. I was now upon equal terms with my enemy, and had therefore little to fear. It was now a question with me, whether I should wait the attack of Bernardo, or be myself the assailant: it was doubtful whether I might be able to reach him asleep ; he might awake at the sound of a footstep, and could doubtless dis- tinguish between the step of Lopez, and that of a stranger ; and I was unwilling to peril my life upon a struggle below, and in darkness. I re- solved therefore to wait Bernardo's appearance upon deck; and closing with him, to call upon Paulo for assistance. More than an hour passed without any sound being heard from below. At length my ear caught the sound of a slight move- ment ; and the next moment, " Lopez " was twice pronounced in an under tone by Bernardo ; it was repeated a third time, — and hearing no answer, Bernardo muttering something to himself, began to ascend. I had placed myself in such a posi- THE NEW GIL BLAS. • 207 tion, that Bernardo's back would be presented to me when he ascended from below. No sooner had he reached the deck, than I threw myself upon him, pinioning his arms, and at the same time called loudly upon Paulo ; but I had either overrated my own strength, or underrated that of my adversary: with a sudden and powerful jerk, he freed himself from my grasp, calling loudly upon Lopez, and venting horrible impre- cations ; and at the same instant drawing a pistol from his girdle, he sent a ball into Paulo's side, who had just appeared above deck ; and who, uttering a groan, fell back into the cabin. It was now man to man ; — in another moment a ball would have been through my heart; there was no time to draw my sabre ; and springing forward, I closed upon my enemy. It was a death wrestle : man to man, on the deck of the little vessel on the wide ocean; close folded in each other's gripe, we struggled for life ; not a word was spoken — we tugged in silence and darkness — gradually we neared the side of the vessel; and now it was the object of each, to lift his adversary from the deck, and precipitate him into the sea, — we reeled to and fro, — and I felt strength beginning to fail me ; at length, by a terrific eifort, Bernardo lifted me from my foot- ing, but being unable to unloose my gripe, which would have dragged him after me, he 208 THE NEW GIL BLAS. flung himself forward upon the deck, while I fell beneath him; but scarcely had I touched the planks, when Bernardo uttered a deep groan — his grasp relaxed, and he rolled over me upon the deck; the knife which he carried in his girdle* had turned in the struggle, and falling upon the haft, the point had entered his heart ! " Now God be praised," said I, as I felt the deck slippery with my enemy's blood, and could see beneath the feeble moonlight, that had now for a moment found its way through the clouds, the ruffian face of Bernardo distorted with the death struggle ; " now God be praised, and our Lady, for the events of this night !" for I confess that while struggling with Bernardo, the recol- lection of the saint I had stolen in my youth, flashed upon my mind ; nor did I feel altogether at ease as to the false history of the relics, which necessity had forced me to give ; but I now plainly perceived, that my errors had been for- given, or overlooked ; and from that moment, neither of these circumstances ever gave me the smallest uneasiness. * All over the southern provinces of Spain, a knife is carried in the girdle. CHAPTER XV. WHICH JJARRATES THE DEATH OF PAULO, NOTWITHSTAND- ING THE ARGUMENTS OF THE PHYSICIAN J AND SHOWS THE SACRIFICE I MADE, TO PURCHASE A HUNDRED MASSES FOR HIS SOUL. Freed from the danger to wliich I had been exposed, I had now leisure to think of the wounded Paulo, whose groans had from time to time assured me, that Bernardo had not suc- ceeded in sending him jfirst out of the world. I found the wounded man not so near death as I had expected; the ball had not lodged in his side, but had passed obliquely, only making a furrow in it, and it might be, splintering a rib or two. This was a most joyful discovery, for having no skill in seamanship, I might just as well have been thrown overboard by Bernardo, as left in the mystico by myself, under the rocky coast of Granada. With my assistance, Paulo crawled upon deck: he did not require to be told, that his assistance was needed ; his wound 210 THE NEW GIL BLAS. prevented him from handling the ropes, but by his directions I was able to do what was re- quired; and I even speedily began to compre- hend what was necessary to be done without directions. Meantime, the wind continued fair, and be- came more moderate, which was fortunate for a vessel manned so slenderly ; and we rapidly slid over the broad-shouldered waves — the rock of Gibraltar and the Barbary mountains lessening behind us : but the mystico made more rapid progress towards its destination, than Paulo did towards his recovery. His wound, although far from mortal, began to look worse ; for when 1 had succeeded in stanching the blood, my skill was exhausted; and although for my own sake I wished to take upon myself all the labour of managing the mystico, yet, habit frequently stretched out Paulo's arm to pull a rope, or steer the vessel, — and such exertions greatly dimi- nished his chances of recovery. The presumed virtues of the relics inspired Paulo with considerable hopes; it was evident, that to my possessing them he attributed the issue of the contest with his companions, — and he appeared to look with some confidence to their powers of cure upon himself. For my own part, the manner in which I possessed myself of these relics, and the use I had made of them, almost THE NEW GIL BLAS. 211 forbade me to attribute my deliverance to them ; but I could nevertheless have no objection to humour Paulo; and accordingly producing the box, I would have delivered it into his hands, but he still believing me to be a friar, notwith- standing my sabre and the prowess I had shown, refused to handle any thing so holy, and the task of trying their efficacy therefore devolved upon me; but no effects being visible, Paulo showed by the expression of his countenance, that he believed the protection of heaven was withdrawn from him on account of his sins — arguing, by the by, a want of faith in the relics, which might of itself be a sufficient explanation of their inefficaey. Paulo was greatly younger than his compa- nions; and although in his countenance there was much of the bold, unlicensed expression of a sea rover, his years, or his crimes, had not yet been many enough to plant in his face the hard lines that at once marked Bernardo and Lopez as men familiar with blood and rapine ; and as he perceived that death was making approaches to him, he made a sign that I should draw near ; and he then communicated to me his desire to pour his confession into my holy ear : but dis- closing to him a vow that I had made, to do no act that implied sanctity in myself, until by cer- tain penance I had freed myself from the blood 212 THE NEW GIL BLAS. of Lopez and Bernardo, our desire now was to gain our port with the utmost speed, that Paulo might not depart without being prepared. Favourable winds carried us along the coast of Granada, and the next morning at day-break, we perceived Malaga lying at the bottom of its fine bay, which we soon crossed by favour of a south wind which then sprung up ; and shortly after, we dropped anchor in the harbour. No sooner was our voyage thus happily brought to an end, than I despatched a messenger for a priest, — an order, in this town sufficiently nume- rous ; and while waiting his arrival, I seized the first moment of leisiu"e that had been mine since the navigation of the mystico devolved upon me, of examining the hold, and cabin of the vessel, and of ascertaining as near as possible, to what amount of property I was likely to fall heir by my own prowess, and the probable demise of Paulo. I found it to be considerable, chiefly in specie ; and as may easily be believed, I indulged in no small self-gratulation upon the issue of the trick I had put upon the digni- taries of Tarifa, which had not only delivered me from captivity, but had led to another adventure, by which I was in a fair way of making my fortune, at the expense of two vil- lains' lives, of whom the world was well rid. As for Paulo, if it was the will of God that he THE NEW GIL BLAS. 213 should die, the will of God be done: and as these reflections passed through my mind, " poor Isabel," I said, winding them up, — " where now art thou ? I trust in thy husband's arms, and as happy as I am. I have not yet quite forgotten thee ; and I should be a hard-hearted rogue if I had, for without thy aid, how should I have ever deKvered myself from the tower of Tarifa." I had scarcely dismissed these thoughts, when I perceived a boat put off from shore, in which was the holy man — a friar, of the Carmelite order — who was about to receive poor Paulo's confession. When we had exchanged saluta- tions, I made the friar acquainted with the cause that rendered it impossible for me to receive Paulo's confession; but I requested that, as I felt much interest in the dying man, I might be permitted to learn his history (which I had no doubt the confession would include), from the lips of the confessor: to this the friar made no objection, provided Paulo authorised the com- munication; and he proceeded, accordingly, to the couch of the smuggler. " I trust," said I, when he returned, " your ghostly counsel has healed the wounds of the dying man, and that his sins may press lightly upon him in purgatory." " His sins," replied the confessor, " are heavy : they will scarcely let the soul be deli- vered under a hundred masses." 214 THE NEW GIL BLAS. Saying nothing of the hundred masses, which I foresaw would form a large deduction from my inheritance, and trusting that a less number might be accepted by the convent, I reminded the friar of the promise he had made, to commu- nicate to me the particulars of Paulo's history. " I have not forgotten it," said he; " 't is an unhallowed story, and is now so fresh in my memory, that I will go and commit it to paper : the dying man not only authorises me to com- municate his history to you, but he desires that you should be his executor. — If you will come this evening, before vespers, to the convent of the Carmelites, and there inquire for Father Ambrosio, you shall have your curiosity gra- tified." I promised to be punctual: and immediately sought the couch of Paulo, who showed in his countenance, how consolatory the discourse of Father Ambrosio had been; but although the wounds of his mind were healed, those of his body seemed likely speedily to prove how oppor- tune had been the spiritual aid of the confessor. Notwithstanding that the recovery of Paulo would have been more prejudicial to my interest than even if I should have to pay for a hundred masses to pray his soul out of purgatory, I did not on that account neglect to desire the at- tendance of the most skilful physician in Malaga. THE NEW GIL BLAS. 215 But tliis kindness could not delay the fate of poor Paulo. " I see no reason," said the physician, " why this man should die." " Were it not for the wound in his side," returned I, " neither do I." " But," returned he, " the wound ought not to kUl him. The bullet entered the left side of the chest, and passing under the skin, injured the pectoral muscle; but was stopped, and ejected by the cartilages of the ribs, before it reached the sternum." " All this may be verj'- true," said I ; " but the man sinks nevertheless; please to observe — " but just at this moment a deep moan rose from Paulo's couch: " I fear," said I, " he is already dead; that moan sounded like the moan of a dying man." " Impossible," said the physician, rising ; " he cannot be dead ; nothing, I tell you, can be more simple than the treatment of such wounds, — wh)^, sir, twenty such could not kill a man." " Nevertheless," said I, leading him to Paulo's couch, " you see he has died of one." " I see no such thing," returned the phy- sician with asperity ; " and give me leave again to explain how it is impossible that such a wound as this should " " Pardon me," interrupted I ; " I am over- 216 THE NEW GIL BLAS. powered with a sense of your learning and acute- ness, and quite agree with you in opinion, that no man can die of such a wound; since then your patient cannot be dead, please to apply to him for payment of your fee, — it is justly earned by so excellent a discovery:" but the physician perceiving that I meant a jest at the expense of his theory, which he valued even beyond fees, turned from me with an air of oifended dignity, — leaving me very well satisfied with a theory which had saved me a crown. Having provided for the Christian burial of the unfortunate smuggler, I ascertained the amount of my inheritance, which was burdened only with as many masses as might suffice for the deliverance of Paulo's soul, wliich I resolved should not suffer from my niggardliness ; though at the same time, I could not help thinking a hundred masses an extravagant demand for the deliverance of a soul which had not been in the body more than five-and-twenty years. And now the vesper hour approaching, I hastened to the convent of the Carmelites, where I found Father Ambrosio, who received me with much courtesy — and with whom, when I had informed him of the death of Paulo, I immediately entered upon business, respecting the masses. " Father," said I, " I have a proposal to make to you, which may probably be acceptable. I THE NEW GIL BLAS. 217 am a pilgrim, who have travelled over all the world in search of relics wherewith to enrich the convent of the Carthusians in the city of Murcia ; fortune has greatly favoured my design — for I now possess some relics, the least valu- able of which would increase the revenues of your convent fourfold. Heaven, I may truly say, threw me into the power of those smugglers; of whom Paulo was one, — that the excellent virtues of these relics might receive confirma- tion, — for to what but to them, can I ascribe my deliverance from the swords of two assassins, whose murderous weapons were blunted, — and who were themselves overpowered, by one weak servant of God, not on account of his own worthiness — which were, alas ! weak security — but by virtue of the holy relics which were con- cealed in his bosom, and to whose efficacy he trusted : these," continued I, drawing from my bosom the box containing them, " are the relics of which I speak." As I opened the lid, the eyes of the friar glistened ; for having no reason to doubt the truth of my story, especially since Paulo's tale must have informed him of the circumstances that had taken place, such an acquisition could not fail to bring the convent into repute ; and to attract many to its gates, from a hope of deriving VOL. I. L 218 THE NEW GIL BLAS. bodily advantage as well as spiritual consolation from the sacred reKcs contained within its walls. In drawing forth the relics, I gave to the Carmelite friar the same explanations that I had given to the smugglers, in which there was in fact no fraud, — the relics being doubtless as genuine, and probably as valuable, as I repre- sented them to be. When I exhibited to the friar the paper containing the two hairs, — he said, after gravely regarding it for some time, " I con- fess, that imtil this moment, I was not able to see these precious hairs : your faith, warmed by a contemplation of the holy places amid which the relics have been preserved, has naturally given you an advantage over me ; but now this most inestimable of them all, begins to be visible; this is indeed a prize." But from the peculiar expression of the friar's countenance, I could perceive that his thanks were given to me less for the relic itself, than for a hint which might be turned to profitable account. I was sensible that the relics were worth more than the price of a hundred masses ; but perceiving the difficulty of disposing of them advanta- geously, without, at the same time, continuing the disguise of a friar, which was not a cha- racter much suited to my habits ; and knowing besides that my right to dispose of them at all, might chance some day to be questioned, I THE NEW GIL BLAS. 219 concluded a bargain with the Carmelite friar; stipulating, in return for the relics, a hundred masses for Paulo's soul — to be said at the shortest possible intervals — that no delay might take place in Paulo reaping the benefit of my gene- rosity. As for depriving the Carthusian convent in Murcia of these relics, I alleged that the deliverance of Paulo's soul was a deed of greater piety than enriching that convent; a reason, to the conclusiveness of which the Car- melite friar found no difficulty in assenting. The box, in which the relics had been inclosed, I still retained, to serve as a depository for a part of my gold. The affair of the masses being thus satis- factorily terminated, the friar drew forth Paulo's confession. " This," said he, as he put it into my hand, " is the history of that unhappy man whose soul, but for our masses, might remain an eternity in purgatory. I have omitted the dis- course that we held together, touching his sins, and their expiation ; and have but noted down the narrative of his life, which is written as near as may be, in the very words spoken by himself." Soon after receiving the paper, I took my leave of Father Ambrosio ; and having already dis- posed of the mystico, and filled a bag with the specie I had found, I took advantage of the darkness, to cast oif my friar's habit, and hide L 2 220 THE NEW GIL BLAS. it in a hedge of aloes. I then hired an apart- ment in the Posada de los tres Reyes, and seized an early opportunity of reading the memoir, which will be found in the next chapter. CHAPTER XVI. THE CONFESSION OF PAULO, THE SMUGGLER. *' I WAS born in the city of Alhama : my father was an extensive wine and olive grower; and my mother, being sister to a canon attached to the archbishopric of Granada, it was deter^ mined that I should be brought up to the church. At an early age I was sent from my paternal home to the care of the canon at Gra- nada, who shortly after obtained for me the situation of one of the archbishop's pages. I was well fed, well lodged, and kindly treated; my duties consisted in waiting upon my patron at table, and attending him when he went from home ; and the remainder of my time was occu- pied with those studies which were pointed out by the chaplain, as proper for youths destined for the priesthood. " At this period of my life, my whole ambi- tion was, to rise some day to eminence in the 222 THE NEW GIL BLAS. church: every thing I saw around me, contri- buted to foster this inclination. The good arch- bishop, whose revenues were ample, seemed to pass his days in the most agreeable manner : during the morning, he was occupied in dis- charging the functions of his high dignity ; and I then had an opportunity of observing the great respect that was rendered to him: his table was splendidly furnished, and the sofa upon which he took his siesta, the most inviting in the world : the evening was passed in conversa- tion with his friends, diversified by an occasional cup of chocolate and Naples biscuit; and, in short, I was enchanted with the life of an arch- bishop. Nor did that of my uncle the canon seem contemptible; so that while I continued to be a boy, 1 was perfectly satisfied with the decision of my parents respecting me, as well as with the prospects upon which I thought I might reasonably build. " Although the manner of living practised by the archbishop of Granada, was not of a kind calculated to repel by its severity, he was never- theless most strict in his devotions, which were doubtless inspired by the , sincerest piety ; and the conversations which my patron sometimes condescended to hold with me, touching the ex- cellent choice of a life devoted to God, joined with the studies which I unremittingly pursued. THE NEW GIL BLAS. 223 early awoke in me a real inclination for the service of the church, — a zeal for its welfare, — and not only a firm persuasion in the orthodoxy of its tenets, but no inconsiderable spirit of de- votion in the exercise of its observances ; so that of all the archbishop's pages, I was looked upon as the most promising. " The time approached when, duly qualified by years and knowledge, I should rise into the priesthood; and no youth ever looked forward to the realization of some worldly hope with more eager longings, than I did to my exalta- tion. No thought of the world I was for ever quitting, or of the pleasures from which I was for ever separating myself, threw a shade over my mind. The world I scarcely knew ; and its pleasures, I had been accustomed to think, were sinful; and if I ever bestowed a thought upon the one or the other, the thought was accom- panied by a sincere ejaculation of thanksgiving, that the part I had chosen excluded me from their temptations. Alas ! in these days, how imperfectly did I know myself; or how little sus- pect the impotency of those preparations against himian passions, which consist only in despising them. My last preparation for the priesthood, was a pilgrimage to the altar of the holy Shep- herdess in the Capuchin convent of Seville ; and immediately upon the accomplishment of this act 224 THE NEW GIL BLAS. of piety, I said mass for the first time, and sat down at tlie bishop's table. " With the high patronage I enjoyed, there was little reason to doubt, that at no distant period the archbishop would provide for me; and it so happened, that the chaplain in the house of the Conde de Peiiuoz, intendente of the province, dying, I obtained his place through the land recommendation of my patron, who at the same time assured me, that this was but a temporary provision; as my knowledge and piety were deserving of higher preferment. I had then but newly completed my twenty-second year ; but so high a recommendation as that of the archbishop, joined with my known repu- tation for strictness and devotion, prevented any demur on account of my youth ; and I was accordingly admitted into the family of the in- tendant, in the capacity of chaplain; though without the duties of confessor being joined with it ; these being then performed by an old Car- thusian friar. " The family of the intendant consisted of only one daughter; who, with the intendant's lady, and a nephew — then but a boy — were all the inmates of the house into which I was admitted. Ah ! that its doors had been for ever shut against me : little did I imagine how soon tliey were to stand betwLxt me and my God. THE NEW GIL BLAS. 225 " To the society of women I had hitherto been a stranger ; glimpses of female coimte- nances I had indeed caught; and on my pil- grimage to Seville, one I saw, that had for a moment riveted my eyes ; but the only females with whom I had ever conversed, and that through a grating, were the sisters in the con- vent of Augustinian nuns, to whom my uncle the canon was confessor ; and these, the dedicated to heaven, I regarded with veneration only less sacred than that which I rendered to heaven itself. " The very first night I slept in the intendant's house, I awoke in the utmost perturbation from a dream, in which I foimd myself kneeling before an image that bore the likeness of Dona Francesca. I endeavoured to banish the recol- lection of the vision, — and slept again, — but while I dreamt that I said mass, I heard no response but the soft voice of Dona Francesca : the morning put these visions to flight ; my ha- bitual thoughts, studies, and duties, fiUed up the day, during which, no vain imagination broke in upon my meditations, or distiu-bed my devotions ; but with night, came the image of Dona Fran- cesca, — more distinct, — more abiding. Long ere morning da^vned, I prayed earnestly to be de- livered from this visitation; but even while I prayed, the lovely vision kneeled beside me, — l3 226 THE NEW GIL BLAS. for lovely it was. Dona Francesca, the only child of the intendant, was then scarcely seven- teen : such beauty I might have fancied the attri- bute of a glorified saint, — but that such should be the portion of a daughter of earth ! ! Oh ! what a world of knowledge did that discovery reveal to me ! " Long, and earnestly, did I resist tempta- tion ; I redoubled my attention to my devotional exercises; I subjected myself to severe penance; I prayed, I fasted. I retired for a time to the monastery of the Carthusian friars, and practised the most rigid austerities. I even made a second pilgrimage, to the Santa Forma in the Escurial ; but, alas ! no penance, no fastings, no prayers, could shut out the image of Doiia Francesca. Often, when no eye but the eye of God was upon me, I would walk at the dead of night to the secluded valley of the Daro, and entering the chapel dedicated to St. Teresa, throw myself before her shrine, and with tears streaming from my eyes, and beating my breast, implore the aid of that virtuous saint to deliver me from the snare which the devil had prepared. But all my efforts were unavailing, — and all my prayers unanswered. By day and by night, the comi- tenance of Francesca was before me, — and at times, even unhallowed visions, — the contri- vances of the devil; such as are fraught with THE NEW GIL BLAS. 227 death to the souls of God's servants, would intrude upon my slumbers. Once, as I fancied that I prostrated myself before the shrine of St. Teresa, the saint stepped from the canvass, and extended her hand to raise me from my prostra- tion : it was a hand, such as might belong to a glorified saint, — powerful, yet scarcely palpable ; but as I touched it, it changed into a human hand ; and the face and form were the face and form of Francesca, and I madly pressed the hand to my lips ; but the touch was fire, — it ran like lightning to my heart; and a throb that seemed ready to burst my side, woke me to a consciousness of my sinfulness and misery. " During all this time no repining ever arose in my mind, that I had dedicated my life to the church; no unhallowed hopes, nor even erring thoughts, were ever cherished in my waking hours. It was a fierce and constant struggle that I maintained for religion and virtue. I knew that human passion was warring for the mastery ; but never did one thought of surren- - der enter into my mind. ' God's servant I am,' I said, ' and God's servant I will remain — per- severance will surely in the end deliver me from this trial.' But while thus hoping for deliver- ance, an event occurred that wTought a fearful change in my feelings. " I have said that the confessor in the inten- 228 THE NEW GIL BLAS. dant's family was an old Carthusian friar ; one day this holy man sent for me, and having taken me into his little apartment, and shut the door, he addressed me thus : — ' I know well,' said he, 'the sanctity of your character, and admire in you that piety and knowledge which have so justly recommended you to the good opinion of our most illustrious archbishop. I do not, there- fore, hesitate to confide to you — as indeed seems to be a duty — a secret that was yesterday re- posed in me. I need not tell one, who has had so able instructors as it has been your good fortune to have, that the secrets of the confes- sional ought to rest in the breast of the con- fessor; but there are occasions, upon which duty may decide otherwise; and when you have heard my communication, you will doubtless perceive the object of it. " 'Yesterday evening I confessed the Doiia Francesca : 1 saw, for the first time, a struggle in the breast of that innocent young person, whose confessions have never yet needed pen- ance or rebuke, and I encouraged her. " ' Alas ! father,' said she, ' I have been very wicked ; and dare scarcely hope for absolution.' " ' If you are repentant, my child,' said I, ' I am authorised to absolve you from all sin, in the name of the blessed Trinity : surely thy sins are not heinous — no deadly sin can yet THE NEW GIL BLAS. 229 have — ' I would have proceeded, — but she in- terrupted me. "'Say not so,' said she; 'mine I fear is a deadly sin ; and alas ! how can you comfort me, or absolve me ; how can God pardon me, since I dare not say, that I repent ? ' " ' Speak not thus, my child,' said I ; ' con- fide thy wanderings to me, and it may be that the avenue to thy heart may be found;' and Francesca then said, ' Father, I have dared to breathe a msh in secret, that Paulo, the pious Paulo, were even such as I am, that God might have one servant the less.' " ' Ah, my child,' said I, ' what do I hear ? thou hast dared then to lift upon Paulo the eye of sinful affection ! Beware, beware how thou spreadest a snare for one of the most faithful of God's servants.' " ' No, father,' replied she, ' this I have not done, — I have not yet been so wicked; but 1 have indeed thought, that if his vows had not separated him from human affection, I might have been worthy of his esteem, — his love.' "The Benedictine friar then continued : 'Paulo,' said he, ' my duty does not permit me to relate what farther converse passed between Doiia Francesca and her confessor. Thus far, I have fulfilled a duty I owe to myself, — to you, — and especially to the erring maiden, and her excel- 230 THE NEW GIL BLAS. lent parents, whose pious generosity this con- vent has so often experienced. I would not willingly wound their feelings, by revealing to them, the sinful wanderings of a child who is their hope and their pride ; but to thee, Paulo, knowing well, and believing in thy reputation for sanctity, I have made known the unhappy truth, that thou mayest hasten to withdraw thy- self from the house of the Intendente, lest the soul of his child be endangered by a continuance in sinful thoughts. Happy, thrice happy are they, my young friend, who, like thee, have chosen the service of God early — ere sinful passions have begun to plead, and the sanctity and austerities of whose lives are as armour against the assaults of the wicked one. I know that thou wilt not neglect my warning. I perceive that thou art somewhat disturbed, — and it is natural thou shouldst: this may be a wile of the devil, — a snare to lure thee from thy allegiance to God ; but be calm, my son, be fervent in thy devotions; to thee there is little danger ; but as thou mayest be held accountable for the soul of Doiia Fran- cesca, and as thou valuest her salvation, leave the abode where the tempter is busy; I will not fail to ask for thee, the assistance of our patron saint.' " Such was the communication of the Carthu- sian friar. With as much calmness as I could THE NEW GIL BLAS. 231 assume, I thanked Mm for tlie important dis- closure he had made; and promised without delay, to adopt the line of conduct that duty- seemed to point out. " Dreadful was the timiult of my soul, as I left the convent of the Carthusians : the fire that I had hitherto kept down, now burst into flame ; it was no longer the blood of an anchorite, but the full tide of passion that rushed through my veins : a delirium of new and intoxicating fancies swam on my brain, — this, I said, is love — human love ! and then the thought darted like light- ning through my mind, that she, — the gloriously lovely — the maiden Francesca, loved me — me, a priest — a vowed servant of God ! In a moment a pang, like a sharp sword, passed through me, — the intoxicating vision fled from me, — I had, un- knowing whither my mad steps were leading me, reached an unfrequented spot beyond the Alhambra, and above the valley of the Daro. I threw myself upon the earth, in an agony of despair. I wept, and prayed by turns, — earthly passion, and divine recollections, maintained a fearful conflict, — sometimes I called aloud upon Francesca, coupling with her name all of ten- derness that human lips may utter ; then I called upon heaven not to abandon me; and tears and sighs of contrition were strangely mingled with the outpourings of human love and despair. At 232 THE NEW GIL BLAS. this moment, the vesper bell of a neighbouring convent struck upon my ear: it was like the accusing voice of God. I remembered the hour and its invitation ; and while I prayed, the calm- ness of former days stole upon my mind. I was already on the road to that secluded temple, where I had so often asked the protection of the patron saint. ' I have been led here,' I said, ' by the Divine will, let me not turn aways' and with hasty steps I pressed onward, and sought the portal of the chapel dedicated to St. Teresa. " Oh, I remember that moment ! Before en- tering the porch, I cast my eyes up to heaven — a calm twilight filled the air; the sim had set, but a deep glow spread over the west, which yet cast a golden lustre upon the painted windows ; the broad moon had risen — and it seemed as if the great eye of God were upon me. I softly entered the church, and noiselessly approached the sacred niche. Ah ! with what malignant subtilty had the evil one spread his snare ! — not content with luring me from my vows, he had bribed me to my destruction, even in the very temple of God. A figure knelt before the altar, \\dth clasped hands — a female figure, — and T heard these words earnestly pronounced : — ' Shield me, oh good and glorified saint ! thou whose life upon earth was sanctity and purity. THE NEW GIL BLAS. 233 and whose work in heaven is the blessed work of protection and intercession for frail, but re- pentant mortals, — oh shield me from my sinful thoughts ! thou knowest them, blessed saint ! and thou knowest, that without thy aid they will destroy my soul.' Great God ! it was the voice of Francesca: the holy calm that an instant before had filled my breast, passed away ; passion a*gain flooded the avenues to my heart: the place, the prayer of penitence, that yet echoed in the distant aisles — my resolves — heaven — my soul, were forgotten ! and with burning accents of love on my lips, I sprang forward to prostrate myself, not before the altar of Teresa the saint, but at the feet of Francesca the mortal. She turned, uttered a faint scream, rose, and fell into my arms. I but remember that moment of delirium, — I clasped her to my breast, and sunk fainting to the ground, overpowered with excess of bliss. " When I opened my eyes, my head was supported by Francesca, — I yet laid below the altar, and she kneeled beside me : the twilight had not yet left the niche; her veil was thrown back, and her eyes, swimming and beseeching, were intently fixed upon me. After a pause of a few moments, she said in a voice tremulous with emotion : ' Father, why camest thou hither? why were my devotions . interrupted, perhaps 234 THE NEW GIL BLAS. overheard?' The delirium in which I had sunk to insensibility, had passed away ; but the calm that succeeded, was not that holy calm with which my heart was filled when I entered the temple, but that which denotes a settled purpose, whether in good or evil; because to return is impossible, — as he who passing a raging torrent, looks back, and seeing the props of his footsteps swept away, prepares to advance, even if tb destruction. I looked back, and knew that my vows were already broken ; the sanctity of my character tarnished, heaven forgotten, and my soul lost: I had profaned the temple of God, and outraged the sacredness of the altar — the shrine of St. Teresa had been polluted — for had I not, even on the spot worn by the knees of the devout, and where no accents save those of penitence and devotion had ever been breathed, had I not, — I, a priest — the dedicated to the church — the dead to the world and its allure- ments, — had I not, even there, been the willing servant of sin — the slave of unhallowed passion ! ! the lips that should have poured out prayer, had trembled with the outpourings of human love ; the arms that should have been lifted in devo- tion, had stooped to embrace a mortal ! ! These recollections passed like lightning through my mind, and scarcely had Francesca said, ' Father why camest thou hither?' ere I was ready to THE NEW GIL BLAS. 235 reply, ' Francesca, I came not to disturb thy devotions, or to listen to them ; though I know thy secret thoughts, and overheard thy prayers. I came with purpose alike holy as thine, to implore the assistance of the patron saint in delivering me from sinful thoughts, and, as I once thought, unhallowed hopes; but now this purpose is vain : my thoughts shall no more be sinful, nor my hopes unhallowed, they both shall be lawful — hear me, Francesca, — but first let us leave this altar, the sanctity of the place disturbs thee. Francesca,' I continued, when we stood beneath the starry sky, ' the church claimed my services ere I knew the world from which it separated me — ere I knew that it contained such as thee. God will not accept a divided service ; he who is dedicated to heaven, must not glance regretfully towards earth, his soul is the forfeit ; and she who is not denied the enjoyments that earth affords, must not dream of a servant of heaven partaking them with her — her soul is else the forfeit. Francesca, there is but one escape from perdition for both thee and me ; one only way by which our thoughts shall no longer be sinful, nor our hopes unholy ; one only refuge from the wiles of satan : I will renounce the priesthood. Nay, start not, Francesca ; why did I seek the shrine of St. Teresa ? was it not to ask deliverance from the thoughts that wandered 236 THE NEW GIL BLAS. towards thee ! and why were these sinful, but because I was a priest, and thou a woman ? but when I am no longer a priest ! Dost thou understand me, Francesca ? ' " Francesca tremblingly answered, ' yes, — when thou art no longer a priest, we may love.' " ' Here then,' said I, ' beneath the starry sky, and these thousand witnesses, — and here,' leading her again into the temple, ' I renounce my vows — religion itself demands the renuncia- tion. And now, most loved Francesca, forget that thou hast ever known me as one of the priesthood ; our love is no more sinful, and our union will be holy.' " After a few moments of silence and rapture, Francesca disengaged herself from my pas- sionate embrace. ' In yonder house,' said she, ' my attendants are waiting my return. It was our confessor, the Carthusian friar, who sent me to the shrine of St. Teresa. Alas ! how shall I again meet him in confession ?' ' Thou never shalt,' said I, 'we must soon be far from Gra- nada :' and thus Francesca left me. " A strange perturbation filled me when I recalled the events of the past hour. I knew that in renouncing the service of God — even were the renunciation possible — and in forgetting my vows that I might gratify human passion, — I was destroying my soul; I had voluntarily made THE NEW GIL BLAS. 237 choice of the allurements of earth, and thrown from me the promises and engagements of heaven: but I did not regret the choice; the intoxicating draught of love, that I had newly drunk, circulated like fire in my veins — I had clasped my adored to my bosom — nay, had I not tasted the first kiss of love ! — if I had possessed a thousand souls, I would have sacrificed them all ; if heaven had at that moment opened to admit me, I would have shrunk back from its gates. '■ She is mine — she is mine ! ' I said, ' and we shall be united;' and it was almost in a frenzy of joy and hope, that I took the road to Granada. " At times however, there darted upon my mind the conviction, that I had deceived Fran- cesca, and that I was leading to perdition that soul I had pretended I would save. She, in the innocence of her youth, and ignorant of the nature of those obligations that bind the priest- hood, believed that I might abjure it, — she believed that I possessed the power of releasing myself from the obligation of those vows which I had voluntarily taken ; and to this deception it was, that I was alone indebted for the compliance of that innocent maiden. Had she suspected the truth, 1 knew that she would have shrunk from my imhallowed touch, shuddered at the impiety of my confession, and would have for ever fled from the presence of a polluted servant of the 238 THE NEW GIL BLAS. church. I knew the deception that passion had urged me to practise ; I knew that the service of God could not be so shaken oif — that once admitted into the priesthood, death alone can dissolve the union ; that the vows which separate from the world, the vow especially of celibacy, are for ever binding; I also knew the conse- quences of a violation of those vows, and of desertion from the church, — not only in another, but in this world; and that penalties the most frightful,* waited upon the apostacy of the church's servants. I knew all this : my guilt, my probable punishment in this world, my cer- tain doom hereafter ; but all this was ineffectual to turn me from the path that lay as if through the portals of a terrestrial paradise that was opening before me. I felt that I was already lost to heaven; that holy thoughts had fled from me for ever; that the Eden I had pictured on earth was more prized than the joys promised in Paradise ; and would not the wrath of God as surely overtake the hypocrite as the open sinner ! Thus did I strengthen myself in my resolution ; and casting from me all doubts and fears, and closing behind me, as it were, the door of repentance, I resigned myself to the full enjoyment of the new and tumultuous feel- * The Inquisition no doubt existed at that time. THE NEW GIL BLAS. 239 ings that revelled within me — the luxury of burning recollections, and ecstatic hopes. " On the morning succeeding the eventful night that beheld my apostacy, the Carthusian friar — the confessor in the intendant's family, was found dead in his ceU : he doubtless passed into that paradise where I might once have hoped to be. This event rendered it necessary that another confessor should be appointed to the family of the Conde de Peiiuoz ; and, so high did my character stand in his estimation, that I was the same day promoted to the situa- tion held by the Carthusian friar. " The event that called that excellent man from a life of privations and austerities, to the unfading reward of his piety, could scarcely be regretted ; and the office, which in consequence devolved upon me, I could not but regard as having become mine at a seasonable moment, — since, by its privileges, I had access to the ear of Francesca, and opportunity, therefore, to effect the design I had irrevocably formed. " Why should I wound holy ears by details of my infatuation and apostacy? why, when the grave is opening before me, should I speak of things — the recollection of which darkens my view beyond it? It is enough to say, that I persevered in my design, and was every hour strengthened in my apostacy. My unhallowed 240 THE NEW GIL BLAS. love grew with the opportunities I now so often found of inflaming it; and the consciousness that I sacrilegiously abused the privileges of my ghostly office, and prostituted the sanctity of the confessional to my unholy views, fixed me more irrevocably in the entanglements of sin, and seemed to rear a wall of fire between me and repentance. " Meanwhile, impelled chiefly by my passion, and, in some degree, by the dread of discovery, I urged Francesca to fly with me. She, as fearful of discovery, — shrinking from the hypo- crisy which I was still obliged to practise ; and invited by the pleadings of her own heart, did not long resist. Alas ! Francesca ! years of suf- fering, and a roving and licentious life, blotted the remembrance of thee from my memory; but now I see thee as on that fatal night, when youthful and lovely, pale, and trembling, the tears dimming thy coal-black eyes, but with love in thy heart, thou gavest thyself into my keeping, and sealed the doom of my soul, — yet — not of thine, — oh, Jesus Maria, not of thine ! penance surely atoned thy crime. I, who knew little of the world, provided ill against discovery. At Salubrena, a small vil- lage on the sea-coast, scarcely ten leagues from Granada, I fancied that we should be safe from pursuit. Before reaching tliis place, I threw THE NEW GIL BLAS. 241 away the external tokens of the priesthood ; and soon after my arrival there, that ceremony was performed which I knew to be a mummery; but which my confiding Francesca believed to be the sanctification of her love. Would, holy father, I could banish for ever from my memory the recollection of these days ; alas ! how can I ask thy absolution; for when my lips woidd say, ' Grant, O God, that I may remember the number and enormity of my sins, — that I may detest and confess them,' my heart refuses to say, amen. But short-lived was the enjoyment of this paradise. Scarcely had one short month, purchased at the cost of my soul, passed away, ere I was torn from the arms of the weeping and deceived Francesca, by the oflficials of the holy office. We were separated : J, led to that punishment I deserved, — she, to that penance which, I trust, reconciled her to the church^ We were separated, — and I never saw her more. Merciful God ; Holy Mother of the Redeemer ; forgive the tears that yet belong to human memories, and change them into tears of com- punction ! ! " The punishment of my sin belongs not to the duty of confession ; but this I have to avow : my heart grew harder under its severity, — harder towards God, — and yearned after the world, and all that it had once offered. I VOL. I. M 242 THE NEW GIL BLAS. escaped from my persecutors; and wandered throughout Spain, — if perchance I might dis- cover the retreat of my Francesca. I visited Granada in the disguise of a mendicant; there, her story had not been forgotten; and it was known that in one of the convents of Murcia she was expiating her errors. Thither, I ac- cordingly hastened ; and in the Convento de las Cajmchinas, I found, — not Francesca, alas ! — but the recollection of her penances, her patience, and her piety. These she had shown and suf- fered; and, dropping some tears upon her grave — tears, not all of sorrow; consoled by the assurance of the sisters, that she had found rest in heaven, — I passed on my way. " I was now alone in the world, and wandered I knew not, nor cared whither. At length, one evening I found myself upon the shore of the Mediterranean, but whether upon the coast of Murcia, or Valencia, I was ignorant. I was hungiy and cheerless, — careless of life, and yet fearful of dying. While sitting among the loose sand and sea-weeds, satisfying my hunger with a few ilex-nuts — my mind alternating between the dread of death and the weariness of li\dng, — a small scampavia^ much used in those parts, came suddenly roimd a headland, followed by a somewhat larger boat, a settee. In the former boat were two men — in the latter were three. THE NEW GIL BLAS. 243 The scampavia ran ashore, close to where I sat : ' help us,' said they, < to defend our Kves and property against these pirates and smugglers, — we shall be three to three.' They placed a pistol and a cutlass in my hand, and I mechani- cally rose, and accompanied them to the water- edge, to oppose the landing of their pursuers. The moment the settee touched the shore, the three men leaped upon the sand, and at the same instant, both parties fired their pistols ; one of the pirates fell, as did also one of my com- rades; the remaining two pirates closed upon us, and instantly cut down my companion; I defended myself as I best could : ' Do not kill him,' said one of the men, — you see Nicholas is dead : St. Anthony of Padua preserve us ! how can we keep afloat with but two of a crew ?' It would have proved useless to oppose the inten- tions of the victorious pirates, as my life seemed to be spared only on condition of my supplying the place of Nicholas. I could only allege my ignorance of a seafaring life; but this, as you may easily suppose, was overruled, and I foimd myself one of a crew of pirates. The contents of the scampavia were transferred to the settee ; and a hole being scooped in the sand, the two unfortunate men were huddled into it. " My time upon earth is now too short to allow an enumeration of the crimes in which, if I m2 244 THE NEW GIL BLAS. have not been a direct actor, I have been at least an indifferent spectator. The perils and excite- ment of the life which I now led, weakened, and at length almost obKterated, the recollection of the scarcely less guilty life that had preceded it. I was not, indeed, altogether such as my com- panions : I would have avoided the spilling of blood ; they looked upon it as matter of indif- ference; — I might, perhaps, have listened to a prayer for mercy; their hearts were utterly closed against the accents of pity ; — but in law- lessness of purpose, and boldness in the execu- tion of it — in carelessness of injury inflicted, even of the sacrifice of human life, if our escape from danger or discovery called for the sacri- fice, — and in the indulgence of a licentious and lawless life, I equalled, nay, surpassed my com- rades. At times, when on the night watch — when peril was at a distance — and when I was alone with the stars, softer thoughts would steal upon me ; and I would think that I grieved the glorified spirit of Francesca, by the sinful life I was leading; and a half-formed prayer would expire upon my Kps, as the voice of one of my comrades broke in upon my meditation ; or as a sudden pitch of the A^essel, or the sound of breakers, recalled me to my duty. My com- rades taunted me with irreverence, because I sometimes refused to join in those morning and THE NEW GIL BLAS. 245 evening prayers, whicli they never failed to re- member; but I felt that this mockery would be an aggravation of my wickedness; and I refrained. " Father, my confession draws to an end. — Obliged to forsake the trade of piracy on the eastern coast of Spain, from being at length too well known to continue it with impunity, we passed towards the south; sometimes venturing tlirough the straits into the Atlantic, and chang- ing the profession of pirates for that of smug- glers, which we carried on between the free port of Gibraltar and the southern coasts of Spain. If in this calling, there has been less bloodshed, there has been more licentiousness, — if less cruelty, there has been less temptation to be cruel. One only recollection affords me com- fort ; it is, that I have been the means of saving the Kfe of the holy man who has tended me in my illness, and who (blessed be God !) has pre- served me to receive thy ghostly aid." CHAPTER XVII. FROM WHICH SOME KNOWLEDGE OF THE WORLD MAY BE ACQUIRED ; AND WHEREIN MY GOOD OPINION OF MAN- KIND BRINGS MY GOLD INTO JEOPARDY. " Amen!" said I, as I concluded the last sen- tence ; " blessed be God, indeed, that my life was saved, — and if my aid has helped thee to the confessor, and through him to Heaven, 't is no more than thou deservest for thy good inten- tions towards me : may thy soul rest in peace ! There 's nothing bad that might not have been worse ; Paulo might have lived long enough before he found another heir willing to pay for a hundred masses." There being now nothing farther to detain me in Malaga, and thinking there might, per- haps, be wisdom in withdrawing for a season from the neighbourhood of Andalusia, I cast my eyes around for a vessel bound to some distant port. I was now possessed of no less a sum than one hundred and sixty thousand reals, in hard THE NEW GIL BLAS. 247 cash, — and having concluded a bargain with a Barbary Jew, by which the casket of jewels and the diamond ring were transferred to him for forty thousand more, I resolved upon seeing the world in the capacity of a traveller, who pos- sesses the means of enjoying himself. Some- times, as from the heights above Malaga, I looked towards the sierra, beyond which lay Andalusia, and remembered that in that province, and at no great distance, lay Penaflor, my native town, 1 was ahnost tempted to relinquish my design of further exploring the world, — and to go and see if my father yet lived, and if Frederica were yet married: at other times, my thoughts wan- dered towards Isabel and Valenzuela : but I was yet too young to settle in the world; and fortime or my own wit, or a happy alliance of both, having hitherto so agreeably helped me on, though now and then at a halting pace, I re- solved still for a little longer to trust to the alliance. It was not long before I fell in with the master of a vessel bound for Alicante ; in which I hired a passage, — but the cargo of hucaros* not * In the neighbom'hood of the convent of Victoria, near Malaga, the country people find that useful clay of which they make the vessels called hucaros, used for cooling water. Without these, the inhabitant of these sultry shores would be deprived of one of his most essential luxuries ; for when 248 THE NEW GIL BLAS. being completed, two or tliree weeks were yet at my disposal. It was no difficult matter to divert myself for a few days with the roguery of the most roguish population in Spain ; and more than once, I had an opportunity of ob- serving the wonderful dexterity with which the natives of that town use the Guadix knife, whether in cutting up a melon, or ripping up a companion. But this occupation soon became wearisome ; " Malaga," the elixir vitse of my poor preceptor, became insipid ; and even " La- grimas" I discovered to be too luscious. "It would be inexcusable," said I to myself, "in a Caballero like me, to loiter away the next four- teen days on the alameda of Malaga; the ancient and famous city of Granada lies but at three days' journey from hence; no doubt Granada boasts an alameda as well as Malaga, and has as bright eyes to grace it." And with- out farther hesitation, I resolved to judge for myself in these matters. Knowing, however, the bad reputation of the road, and rating at too high a price, the troubles, dangers, and good the hot winds prevail, water exposed to the air in these vessels, becomes icy cold. This singular fact is to be ex- plained by the porous nature of the vessels, which allows the water to exude ; and the hot wind blowing upon the moist external surface, a rapid evaporation, and consequent cold, are produced. THE NEW GIL BLAS. '249 fortune wliich had united to fill my purse, to incline me to run any risk of losing it, I deter- mined upon leaving my riches in some sure hands until my return ; having accordingly made inquiry as to the most honest and substantial merchant of the place, I consigned my gold to his charge, receiving at the same time, a ^vritten acknowledgment of the deposit. " Doubtless," said Don Tomas Lamo (for such was the name of the merchant), "you have provided against the chances of the road." " In the surest of all ways," said I, "by leaving my gold in your keeping." " Ay, ay," returned the merchant, " so far well; but you carry some valuables no doubt — a Caballero such as you, will scarcely journey with an empty purse to Granada, where, like other places, gold purchases pleasure ; and even this little paper I have just delivered to you has its value." " Surely," said I, " a man of your reputation would not take advantage of — " " Ah, God forbid," interrupted the merchant, "but I could not answer for my heirs; I have enemies in this city of rogues, as every honest man has; and it is possible — mark me, it is just possible, that the hand of some villain might make my probity of little use to you." M 3 250 THE NEW GIL BLAS. "I understand you," replied I, "and am willing to be guided by your knowledge." " It is not by force, but by address," rejoined the merchant, " that dangers are to be avoided. I have in my service, a fellow of extraordinary honesty, who has travelled oftener between this city and Granada than there are saints days in the year, — he knows a rogue from an honest man, and a thieves' den from a decent venta — no easy matter, believe me, in these parts: with this man, your gold would be as safe in your girdle as in my coffers, only that the weight would be burdensome : you are welcome to his company, if so be that you think well of my advice." The merchant's talk was reasonable; and think- ing the fellow might earn his puchero in my service, in many other ways than by his mere honesty, which, though a useful, is but a nega- tive quality in a servant — I thanked the merchant for his offer ; and early the following morning, was ascending the steep mountains that lie behind Malaga, followed, a few paces behind, by the paragon of honesty who had been recom- mended to me. " Friend," said I, making a sign for him to come alongside of me, " they tell me this is an ugly road for honest men to travel with gold in their girdles." THE NEW GIL BLAS. 251 " Oh, a villanous road," replied Miguel, for such was his name ; " look senor at the crosses by the way side — scarcely a man has passed us, since leaving Malaga, who is n't a rogue ; 't is a useful knack I possess, in distinguishing a thief from an honest man." "'Tis on account of that quality," said I, " that thy master lent me thy services ; thou hast doubtless been often similarly employed." '•' Your highness may say that," replied Mi- guel; " many 's the purse I 've saved, and many the reward I 've gotten for my services." " 'T was more, however," said I, "out of civility to thy master, the worthy merchant who took charge of my gold, than from any fear on my own account, that I accepted thy company." " Nevertheless," returned Miguel, " my mas- ter enjoined me to look well to your highness' safety ; — for ' harkee, Miguel,' said he, ' thou knowest the spite my heir has conceived against me ; and should any thing happen to me before thy return, 't would be a sad thought in my last hours, that the gold of so worthy a Caballero should pass into the coffers of my graceless heir ; who would, no doubt, refuse to deliver it np, if the paper which I have given to the owner should be stolen from his girdle ; ' where, please your highness, my master supposed you would take care to secrete it." 252 THE NEW GIL ELAS. " No doubt," said I, " such a loss would be a serious misfortune ; but I trust we may find thy considerate master alive and well when we re- turn to Malaga." "God grant it, — the Holy Virgin grant it," said Miguel; and so discoursing, we wound up the heights, and at length began to descend into the valleys on the other side. Notwith- standing the experience I had had of the world, and the price I had sometimes paid for it; and the perusal of my preceptor's history; and all the advantages I had derived from his lessons — I never for a moment suspected the honesty of my attendant; and, if possible, still less, the probity of the substantial merchant whom I had intrusted with my gold. The faithful Miguel slept each night near the mattress of his tem- porary master, with the safety of whose purse he was intrusted; and without any adventure in which the skill of my servant was put to the test, we found ourselves journeying through the vega of Granada; and soon after, we entered this sumptuous city, which seemed to me a city of palaces; and more worthy of renown than even that other boast of Spain, of which the saying is — OUIEN NO HA VISTO SEVIGLIA NO HA VISTO MARAVIGLIA. THE NEW GIL BLAS. 253 " Miguel," said I, as we halted in the market- place of Granada, at the gate of the Posada de la Santisima Trinidad^ " thou may'st amuse thy- self to thy liking, till I have occasion for thy company back to Malaga; here I shall be able to take care of my purse myself." "Nevertheless, senor," replied Miguel, "your highness overrates the honesty of the people of this city; and although during the day my ser- vices may be spared, yet the injunction of my master forces me to beg permission to sleep in the same quarto with your highness." " Be it so, Miguel," said I ; and he, taking charge of the horses, left me to find my way into the posada. " My house is so full of company," said the innkeeper, " that I must pray you to spread your mattresses in the same quarto in which three Caballeros are already asleep : honest gentlemen they are; arrived in this city yesterday from foreign parts." Supper being quickly des- patched, this was accordingly done. The two Caballeros slept too soundly to be disturbed by so trifling a noise as the spreading of a mattress ; and I, for my own part, speedily followed so excellent an example. Long before day-Kght, I was awoke by the voices of the strangers; and overheard the fol- lowing dialogue. 254 THE NEW GIL BLAS. " No doubt," said one of the strangers, " he will arrive before night." "It is an excellent plot," said one voice, " and he '11 be more lucky than wise, if Senor Don Pedro, as I think he is called, ever sees his doubloons again ; — it will be our fault and Miguel's." I need scarcely say, that my own name and Miguel's, and the mention of gold, sufl&ciently roused me ; and raising my head cautiously from my pillow, I listened to the sequel of the dia- logue in breathless anxiety. *' It is more than likely," said the other of the strangers, "that Miguel has already saved us all trouble : he 's a clever rogue ; and my name is not Pascual, if he has not before this trans- ferred the writing from the Caballero's girdle to his own." " In which case," returned the former, " we have only to get it from Miguel, and carry it back to Malaga." "And that," said the other, "will be vastly easier than waylaying the Caballero on his re- turn, and making ourselves masters of it; for I confess I do not greatly Kke the look of that monstrous sabre he is said to carry under his cloak." " Make yourself easy as to that," said the first speaker; "Miguel knows his business better THE NEW GIL BLAS. 255 tliaii to leave us any thing else to do tlian carry the evidence of his faithfulness back to Malaga ; where I am to personate the heir of the mur- dered Don Tomas Lamo, who will all the while be listening in the ante-chamber to the railings of the poor tricked Caballero." " Jesus ! " returned the other, 't will be better than a comedy of Lopez, to see the face of the Caballero, when he learns that Don Tomas is dead and buried ; and discovers that his writing is gone, and his gold in the heir's coflFers ; — he '11 rave lustily, I '11 warrant." " Ay, ay," said the former, " no doubt he '11 rave ; but that will not get back his gold : there 's not an escrivano in Malaga who won't swear he attended Don Tomas' burial, and saw him nailed up and walled in." " All 's quiet in the posada now," said the first speaker; "these cursed muleteers and mules setting off, woke us both, — they 're gone now ; and there are yet, at least, two good hours to day-light, which are better spent in sleeping than talking, so huenas noches." ^' Buenas noches" returned the other; and while I continued to listen, I heard audible demonstration of sleep having overtaken the two Caballeros. During the foregoing dialogue, I had every moment expected some interruption from Mi- 256 THE NEW GIL BLAS. guel, whose interest it would have been, by a speedy discovery of himself, to have prevented me from overhearing a conversation that so nearly concerned me; but all continuing quiet during the dialogue, which was permitted to terminate in the manner above related, I na- turally concluded that Miguel had continued to sleep notwithstanding the noise; and I congra- tulated myself accordingly upon having been so opportunely put in possession of secrets of such importance. No sooner therefore was I satis- fied that the two Caballeros slept, than I hast- ened to execute the resolution I had already taken ; blessing the lucky fortune that had led me to this posada, and introduced me into the quarto of the strangers. My first care was, cautiously to unloose my girdle, and convince myself that the paper was still in my possession. It was gone ! Miguel had already executed his part of the plot. " Well," said I, within myself, " it is fortu- nately yet within my reach; the villain sleeps an arm's length from me; if he awake and resist me — by all the saints, 't will be a race between him and the other two Caballeros, which of them will be first in purgatory; and grasping my sabre with one hand, I crept to the mattress of Miguel, that I might possess myself of his girdle, and thereby recover the title deed to my gold. The THE NEW GIL BLAS. 257 mattress was empty; tlie villain had doubtless that very night accomplished his purpose, and was flown; but whether to Malaga, or only, which M^as more likely, in quest of the two rogues who at the very time were sleeping a few yards from him, I had no means of ascer- taining; the latter supposition was so much more probable, from the conversation I had heard, that I resolved to act upon it. To attempt the recovery of the writing would be vain; for how could I hope to discover the retreat of Miguel, in a city to which I was a stranger; I knew however, that I had the start of the villains; and trusting to expedition, and to my knowledge of Don Tomas' plot, and my unexpected return, I moved cautiously to the door of the chamber — not without hesitating a moment,, whether I would execute justice upon the hired ruffians who still slept soundly; but perceiving no advantage from this course, I stepped into the kitchen, and taking down one of the lamps, made my way to the loM^er end, where I found my horse standing beside that of Miguel's; and without demanding of the posa- dero the price of his lodging, I was soon mounted upon one horse, and leading the other through the streets of Granada; and before day-break I had made four good leagues across the vega. "'Tis but a short visit I have made to Gra- 258 THE NEW GIL BLAS. nada," said I, looking back upon the city which was gilded by the rays of the morning sun ; " but it is better to lose sight of Granada than of my gold." As I hastened on my journey, I could not but curse my imprudence in having trusted my gold, for which I had suffered so much, with any inhabitant of a city so noted for its rogues as Malaga. " Was it for this," said I, " that 1 revenged myself on Andrades — and personated a ghost, and fought with a crew of pirates — to be after all duped by my own simplicity?" and still urging on my horse, I travelled till nightfall; and after a short respite, again before day-break proceeded towards Malaga. It was near sunset on the evening of the second day, that having reached the highest ridge of the mountains that overlook Malaga, I was riding leisiu'ely forward, as indeed I had done for some hours before, when I heard the distant clatter of horses' hoofs behind me. Drawing in my horse, upon the rising ground which I chanced just then to have reached, I perceived three horsemen riding at a furious pace ; and I had no hesita- tion in concluding, that these were no others than the Caballeros whom I had left asleep, and my faithful servant Miguel; doubtless making what expedition they could, to apprise Don Tomas of the events that had taken place, and THE NEW GIL BLAS. 259 for any thing I knew to the contrary, to take the most effectual means of doing this, by methods not uncommon in such a neighbourhood. I feel it to be unnecessary for me, after the events that have been already recorded, to make any apology for declining to measure swords with the ruffians who approached; if one would es- cape, I would be nothing the better of sending the other two straight to the devil; so vaulting on the horse which I led by the bridle, and leaving the other at liberty, I dashed forward down the steep; and although, at the different angles of the zig-zag road that descends to Malaga, I caught a glimpse of a horseman far above, the distance every moment increased; and when I reached the foot of the hill, and drew up to listen, I was imable to catch any sound of pursuit. It was already almost dark when I entered the streets of Malaga; and urging my horse forward, I stopped at the gate of Don Tomas. " My name," said I to the porter who appeared, " is Pascual ;" I come straight from Granada, and would instantly be introduced to Don Tomas." " Ah, my good Pascual," said Don Tomas, as I entered the chamber where he sat, taking his evening refresco of chocolate; " thou bringest welcome tidings no doubt; thou hast it safe?" but scarcely had he concluded his salutation, 260 THE NEAV GIL BLAS. when raising his eyes, and perceiving who it was that stood before him, " Jesus Maria!" said he in evident perturbation ; but instantly recover- ing himself, " Ah senor Don Pedro, — forgive my surprise, — your return is unexpected." " Most unexpected," said I, " else I should doubtless have found Don Tomas in his grave; but I am here, as you see, to claim my gold, which I perceive has fortimately not yet passed into the coffers of the graceless heir, who would have refused to deliver it to me." I have little doubt that Don Tomas, with the instinct which rogues naturally have, accounted correctly in his own mind, for my sudden and unexpected appearance; for I had no sooner made my claim, than he replied, " surely, senor Don Pedro, the gold which you intrusted to me, is at your disposal; that is, upon delivery of the writing which is evidence against me." I saw no necessity for standing upon niceties with a villain like Don Tomas. He could only suspect, but could not feel any assurance, that the paper which he demanded was not in my possession. By at once confessing the truth, I should have given to him the advantage which every rogue possesses over an honest man : there was no witness to the acknowledgment he had just made ; and he would in all probability have denied all knowledge either of myself or my THE NEW GIL BLAS. 261 doubloons; and there was besides little time for disputation, as the arrival of Miguel, who was no doubt at that moment riding with his com- panions at full speed towards Malaga, would at once deprive me of my advantage. Beginning therefore to untie the knot at the end of my girdle, as if for the purpose of producing the writing, I replied, " Senor Don Tomas, at the same time that you deliver my gold, I will re- turn to you the evidence of your possessing it, — a merchant of your extensive experience must admit this to be regular, — please to count out my doubloons, and the business shall be settled regularly; you shall have a reasonable consi- deration for the safe custody of the money." The merchant, knowing that I in reality pos- sessed the writing, had no means of resisting my claim, and probably half believing from the coolness of my address, that I had in fact escaped the toils he had laid for me, produced the bag which I had delivered to him, and emptying the gold upon the table, began to reckon it over piece by piece, as if he would delay till the last moment, the pain of a separation, — but I had reasons for expedition. " Senor Don Tomas," said I ; at the same time sweeping the gold from the table into the bag; "I have no doubt the sum is correct." " Hold, hold," interrupted the merchant, and 262 THE NEW GIL BLAS. attempting to arrest the progress of the gold — " the quittance, the writing." " A quittance you shall have," said I " when I have deposited the doubloons in my girdle." The suspicions of the merchant had now returned ; " no, no," said he, " show me, if you will not yet give up, the writing I delivered into your hands ; till then, the gold remains •here.' ' " Seiior Don Tomas Lamo," said I, " I know the full extent of your villany; your honest Miguel performed his part to admiration, by stealthily depriving me of the evidence you require." " Ah, ah ! then," interrupted the merchant, with an expression of joy in his face, " it is as I suspected. I must have evidence, Seiior Don Pedro, — without my writing, I cannot part with this gold." " Villain ! " said I, " you admit that these doubloons are mine, and you know that your own servant robbed me of the writing which you gave to me, and yet you refuse to deliver to me my own." " Gently," said the merchant : " this is an affair of business ; entirely an affair of business ; you place a quantity of gold in my custody, and I give you a written acknowledgment that I have received it ; what evidence have I that you THE NEW GIL BLAS. 263 have been robbed ? — so long as tlie writing is not returned to me, I may be called upon to refund the money. Come, come, Seiior Don Pedro, listen to reason: I might keep every one of these doubloons ; but I will be generous : it will be your wisest part to enter into an arrangement with me, for you must be sensible that you have no means of proving your title, — no witnesses, Senor." " Nevertheless, Seiior Don Tomas," said I, " if I have no means of proving my title, I have a means of enforcing it, which is much the same thing ; and I have also a witness at hand, whose evidence is irresistible." " How ! a witness," said Don Tomas in alarm. " Harkee, Don Tomas," said I, " do not imagine that the quirks of an old rogue will avail with me. This is my witness," un- sheathing my sabre, " and I desire no better : 'tis a wilKng and a practised witness; and the evidence it gives is conclusive, for it ends all disputes ; — so, Don Tomas, recommend thy soul to heaven ; thou wilt have no occasion to feign death now, and thy burial will be a real, and not a mock burial: as for thy worldly wealth, 't will be all needed to pray thy soul half out of purgatory." As I made this address with the air of a man 264 THE NEW GIL BLAS. who seemed resolved to carry his purpose into effect — and to say the truth, I was greatly tempted to confer a lasting benefit upon society — Don Tomas seemed more dead than alive. To preserve tlie gold, was now the least of his thoughts; he no doubt imagined his last hour was come: for knowing well, that but a small portion of my wealth would buy indemnity for his blood,* he naturally supposed that my desire * Nothing could have been easier than for Pedro to have carried his threat into execution, such events are of every-day occurrence in southern Spain even at this day. The following is an example : " One day last winter, two butchers quarrelled in the market-place of Malaga, and got to high words ; and one of them, according to the usual practice in such cases, put his hand under his girdle, and half drew forth his knife. All the while, an escrivano (lawyer) of kno^Tn talent in his profession, a man who never allowed any one who confided in him to be either tried or executed, stood by. While the man but still half showed his knife, as if uncertain whether to use it or no, the escrivano continued to jog him on the elbow. ' Da /e,' (give it him), said the lawyer; ' aqui estoy yo V (don 't you see that I am here, so that no harai can come to you ?) The butcher however had not been sufficiently roused, for he put up his knife ; and the escrivano, turning to him with a look of contempt, said, ' Alma miserable ! ' (mean spirited creature !) ' and so for the sake of four or five hun- dred reals, you would not revenge yourself upon your enemy.' " This remarkable fact I had from the lips of an eye-witness, a highly respectable American merchant of Malaga. — Spain in 1830. THE NEW GIL BLAS. 265 of vengeance miglit be tliouglit worth such a sacrifice. For my part, my tlireat had answered all the purpose I had intended; and my measures being somewhat hastened by the approaching noise of horses' feet, I swept the whole of the doubloons into the bag, and hastily inclosing it in the folds of my girdle, and flourishing my weapon within an inch of the merchant's neck, I left him to recover as he might from his alarm, and descended into the street with all possible expedition. Just as I passed out of the gate, the three horsemen had drawn bridle. " Good evening, Senores," said I ; " you are but a moment too late for the admirable comedy that has just been acted ; " and at the same time A^aulting on the horse, which upon my arrival I had led into the court-yard, I left the trio to the task of con- soling their employer, and condoling Math one another, — and made the best of my way to the posada. 'Twas with no unpleasant sensation that I dipped my knife in the estofado that evening : " a man," said I, " requires his wits about him to keep his gold, as well as to get it, — 't is the more difficult art of the two : an inheritance will sometimes fall to a man imexpectedly, — but it depends upon himself whether it stays with him." It still wanted four days of the time VOL. I. N 266 THE NEW GIL BLAS. appointed for the departure of the vessel to Alicante; and having had already some expe- rience of the roguery of the city, I never stirred but in day-light, — left the Seiioras to be sere- naded by other Caballeros than me, — and con- tented myself with morning prayer, leaving vespers to be attended by greater devotees or greater sinners, — and thus the remainder of my time in Malaga* expired. * Malaga is noted for its idle and bad population. The mala gente (bad people) of Malaga, is a common expression when speaking of the population of this city. CHAPTER XVIII. CONTAINING THE FIRST PART OF THE ENTERTAINING STORY OF GASTON DE PEDRALBA, THE ONE-EYED. While hurrying to the harbour as fast as the weight of my gold and my baggage would per- mit, and which was indeed so considerable, that I was every now and then forced to stop before reaching the quay, I was accosted by a young man with but one eye, who implored me, for the love of God, to allow him to carry a part of my burden, that he might earn a few quartos. Being fatigued with the weight I carried, and liking the countenance of the speaker, although he had but one eye ; I tossed into his arms the leathern trmik in which my cloak, and a few other articles were contained, and walking along with him, in- quired how he happened to be in want of a quarto. " Ah ! " said he, pointing to his eye, " 't is the loss of this that has ruined me." " Why," said I, in return, " I cannot very well understand how that may be, — one eye is n2 268 THE NEW GIL BLAS. enough for a man to earn liis puchero, — and though the loss of an eye be a misfortune to any man, it is difficult to perceive how it should prove his ruin." " It has nevertheless proved so in my case," replied he ; " but there is no time left to explain how, — for if I mistake not, we have already reached the vessel in which you are about to sail — see, — they are even now unfastening the moorings." There was something, I say, pleasing in the countenance of the young man: his form was fine and athletic ; his manner of address gentle and agreeable; and so expressive was the eye that remained, that if he had had its fellow, I question whether jealousy might have permitted me to make the proposal which is contained in the next sentence. " Harkee, young man," said I, " you seem willing to work for your wages, — 't is perhaps the same thing to you whether you work at sea or on land, or in one town or another : if you 're agreed to step on board with me, you shall have two double doubloons, and fare well, 'till I put you ashore at Alicante." " At Alicante !" repeated the young man in an agitated voice, the reason of which will become known by and by — " to Alicante be it then, and God bless you for the offer;" and thus I was THE NEW GIL BLAS. 269 provided with a servant. I must confess, that curiosity to know how the loss of an eye couhl be the ruin of a man, was as powerful a motive with me to engage his services, as either com- passion for his condition, or my own necessities. Before doubling Cape de Gata, I had found some occasion for the services of an attendant, who, as it will afterwards be seen, had too much experience of the sea, to be incommoded by the, white swell against which we were forced to beat all the way from Malaga; but having once rounded this cape, we ran directly for Cartha- gena, in which port we cast anchor on the fom-th day. Here, although our stay was short, I did not forget the new character under which I travelled; and in that character, contrived to get quit of some few of my pieces. I was equally charmed with the Carthagena women, and the Balsapintada wine ; weakness being the characteristic of the one, and strength of the other. From Carthagena, we ran with a fair wind for Cape de Palos, which, having doubled, we made sail direct for Alicante, stealing along the beautiful shore of Valencia: and one delightful evening, while seated upon deck, and while Gaston de Pedralba (for such was the name of my attendant) stood opposite, leaning upon the side of the vessel, I expressed a desire to have 270 THE NEW GIL BLAS. some explanation of that enigma spoken by liim on the quay of Malaga, that the loss of his eye had proved his ruin ; and he, well disposed to gratify my curiosity, which he was doubtless surprised had not long before prompted the request, seated himself beside me upon the locker, and spoke as follows : THE STORY OF GASTON DE PEDRALBA.; AND HOW THE LOSS OF ONE EYE, WAS THE CAUSE OF HIS RUIN. " When on the quay at Malaga, you gave me to understand that this vessel was bound for Alicante, the emotion with which I received that piece of information, probably did not escape you. But this will not seem extra- ordinary to you, when I shall have made an end of my story ; for at the name of Alicante, my misfortunes rise more freshly to my recollection. It was in that city that I was born, — my father was an eminent exporter of its wines, and owned a large tract of vine country a few leagues from the town. " I am one of three brothers, — all children of one birth — but my birth being announced as the first chime of twelve was heard from the tower of St Nicholas, whereas the twelfth chime was almost past before my brethren became citizens THE NEW GIL BLAS. 271 of the world, I was recognised as tlie first-born, and my father used often to say, that twelve seconds established the right of primogeniture as well as twelve months ; and that my adroit- ness had secured my birth -right ; and as I grew up, it gave me no small pleasure to learn that Castillo de Pedralba, with its rich vineyards, were destined to be mine ; for my father, who prided himself upon the antiquity of his familj^, M'as resolved that the estate bearing the family name should descend unbroken and imburdened to future generations. " Now it so happened, that my brother Bat- tisto, who came into the world next after me, and my brother Antonio, who was third in order, were so like the first-born, and so like each other, that during the confusion incident upon such an occasion, the precedence might have been confounded, had it not fortunately hap- pened, that my father — supposing that all was over, entered the apartment just after I was born ; but finding that the afi"air instead of being concluded, was only beginning, and not know- ing where the thing might end, he took me in his arms, and patiently waiting the event, se- cured my rights by keeping me separate from my brethren ; and there being no better way of distinguishing us, small labels, marked one, two, and three, were suspended around our necks. 272 THE NEW GIL BLAS. " My mother, while she Kvecl — which was not many years, always imagined she could distin- guish one from another, especially her first-born from his followers ; and sometimes she went so far as to threaten to throw the labels into the fire, saying it was a strange thing indeed if a mother did not know her own children ; and this was a frequent cause of bickerings between her and my father, who would by no means consent to trust the rights of his first-born to his wife's sagacity. Once, by way of making trial of it, he changed the labels ; and it is certain that she discovered the trick that had been played upon her ; nor would it be safe to aver that this was accidental — for perhaps to her heart, if not to her eyes, there might have been some dis- tinction unknown to all others — especially as the privilege of being nursed at home had been conferred upon me, the first-born, my brothers being obliged to others than their mother for their infant nourishment. I dwell with the greater exactness upon all this, because it is important to my story, that my right of primo- geniture should be quite apparent. " But by whatever yearnings, or secret inti- mation, my mother was able to distinguish one son from another, this faculty was confined to herself. No one else had the presumption to say, that the slightest difference was discernible. THE NEW GIL BLAS. 273 In features, in stature, in complexion, in expres- sion, all agreed, that three grapes could not be plucked so like each other, as were Gaston, Battisto, and Antonio de Pedralba. As for my father, he used to say, that the thing was so unnatural, the devil must be at the bottom of it, — a saying, the truth of which I have un- fortunately lived to experience. Unlike the resemblances too, which are sometimes observ- able among children, but which, as they grow up become wider, ours were the same in youth as in childhood — nearer they could not be; but when we had reached the age of fourteen, an accident happened to my youngest brother, which served in future as a sufficient, and to him a most unhappy distinction betwixt him and his two seniors. It was our frequent custom to practise the use of the small sword ; and one day, while my two brothers were engaged in this pastime, the weapon which my brother Battisto used, and from the point of which the guard had fallen unperceived, entered the eye of Antonio, and he was ever afterwards deprived of the sight of the left eye, even as you now see mine. " After this occurrence, it was therefore only between Battisto and myself, that there was no distinguishing mark : but perfect as this re- semblance was, it extended no farther chan to N 3 •274 THE NEW GIL BLAS. our external traits : — our characters were no ways similar. It is not for me to be the trum- peter of my own virtues ; but as the character of my brother is so closely connected with the events I have to relate, I must tell you, that the gene- ral opinion was more favourable to me than to Battisto. His character was morose and selfish ; and as we grew old enough to have a compre- hension of our rights and interests, he would often deride those pretensions which were founded upon priority of birth, and even hint at the slenderness of my claim to. the family inheritance. I saw that, brother though he was, he hated me ; and I was even constrained to believe, from the malevolence which showed itself upon all occasions, that if ever he should have it in his power to injure me, I could not rest the chance of forbearance upon his frater- nal affection. " As we grew up towards manhood, a new source of separation arose between us. The possessions of my father were separated only by an aloe fence from those of the wealthy Seiior Manuel de Novelda. This gentleman had realised an ample fortune in Murcia, as a silk grower and merchant, and having retired from business, he had made purchase of the estate of which I speak, where he resided with his lady, and one daughter, Paulina, his only child. THE NEW GIL BLAS. 275 Nothing could be more natural than that my father, who I have already told you, prided him- self greatly upon his blood, and his family castle, should be anxious to see his patrimonial estate swelled to so great importance as would necessa- rily attach to it, were it united to the possessions of Senor de Novelda ; and my father had there- fore early conceived the project of uniting the heir of Castillo de Pedralba, to the heiress of Montelimar (for such was the name of the pos- session). Senor de Novelda had married late in life ; and had already descended into the vale of years, before Paulina had quite departed from childhood; and although few men looked with greater complacency upon his riches and posses- sions, than did the retired merchant of Murcia, yet I have heard that he was not insensible to a certain feeling of inferiority, when from the windows of his own elegant, but modern man- sion,* he saw the ancient towers of Pedralba rising above the trees, and apparently looking down upon his more upstart pretensions ; and he therefore made no difficulty in acceding to the plan proposed to him by my father, for miiting the families, when the ages of the young persons should authorise the union. All this was re- * The neighbourhood of Alicante is remarkable for the great number of handsome modern houses that are scat- tered over it. These are the country houses of the mer- chants. 276 THE NEW GIL BLAS. solved upon long before I had ever thought of a wife, — or Paulina, of a husband. " During the vintage, my father had always made it his custom to leave Alicante, and go to Castillo de Pedralba, and to take his three sons along with him; and at these times we could not but have frequent opportunities of seeing the seiiorita. At the vintage festivals, the young heiress of Montelimar, and the heir of Castillo de Pedralba were always expected to be partners in the seguidilla ; a privilege which my priority of birth never failed to procure for me. Paulina was not however entirely monopolized by me ; my brothers also partook in the festivities, and shared her favour; and while we were all four scarcely more than children, there was no small rivalry amongst us for a smile from Paulina, and it was always with ill-concealed jealousy, that my brother Battisto yielded to me those privi- leges, which my father made a point of being conceded to the heir of Castillo de Pedralba. " Whether it was, that my address and turn of conversation pleased the youthful Paulina, more than these qualities in my brothers (for as to our personal appearance, she, no more than others, was able to distinguish betwixt us) — or whether the obedience which upon such points a Spanish senorita feels to be due to her parents, led Paulina to think of an alliance between duty THE NEW GIL BLAS. 277 and inclination — it is certain that, when she was no longer a child, and when the Seiiora de Novelda, her mother, judged it necessary to inform her of what had been determined upon, Paulina expressed no dislike to the arrangement, nor any greater hesitation, as the Senora her mother afterwards assured me, than might be expected on the part of a seiiorita discreta y modesta. As for me, when my father, sometime about my nineteenth birth-day, called me to him, and told me of the alliance that had been concluded between the families, and of the im- portant part that I was to bear in it ; I expressed the utmost joy at the arrangement, and was only anxious to know how soon it might be carried into effect. ' Not, my son, ' said he, ' until you have completed your one-and-twen- tieth year; and before that time, I design that you and your brothers shall see a little of the world; but more of that by and by.' I was therefore forced to submit to this delay ; which you may easily believe, I would rather have avoided. " Probably, sir, you have not enjoyed many opportunities of seeing the females of this part of Spain ? if you had travelled in the province of Murcia, you would be able better to appre- ciate the impatience I felt for the expiration of my term of probation. To the eye's sparkle, 278 THE NEW GIL BLAS. and the lip's arch beauty, which belong to all the daughters of Murcia, Paulina added graces peculiarly her own ; her youthful sunny counte- nance, when the years of childhood were past, was sometimes visited by an expression of con- templative thought that increased its charm, as the thin cloud veiling the sun-beams, throws upon the earth a softer and more mellowed beauty. She was then two years younger than me; but her figure, as well as her mind, had somewhat outstripped her age : the former, cast in the most perfect mould, added to an almost infantine lightness, those gracious contours which belong to maturer years, — and with the artless- ness of childhood, her mind was already rich in those indescribable and nameless elegances and perceptions, which are rarely the accompani- ments of even a riper age. Forgive me, sir, that I dwell so long upon this subject; but I wish to show you all that Paulina was, that you may understand all that Gaston has lost. " No sooner was this project of an alliance known to my brother Battisto, who for some time had only suspected it, than the unbrotherly feelings he had partly shown from boyhood upwards, were more and more strongly dis- played. I do not know whether he in reality loved Paulina, though it is not improbable that he had conceived some passion for her ; at all THE NEW GIL BLAS. 279 events, he endeavoured to make me believe, that such was the case; and sometimes said, that I might surely have been contented with Castillo de Pedralba, without wishing to marry one who was beloved by another, merely that I might add to my possessions, the lordship of Monte- limar. I will not take upon me to say, that Battisto did not love Paulina ; it is indeed diffi- cult for me to believe that any one could know her without loving her; but I cannot help thinking, that Sefior de Novelda's possessions had greater charms in my brother's eyes than his daughter ; and this I am entitled to believe, from the future conduct of my brother, who, if he had really been inspired with a virtuous love for Paulina, would have been incapable of any other than virtuous actions. " From the time that this intended alliance was made known to those whom it principally concerned, my intercourse with Paulina was less unreserved than it had been before : this limita- tion of our intercourse was owing to the custom of the country, by which young persons who are betrothed, are not permitted to see each other alone more than once. Once accordingly, during the vintage, when, as usual, both families were in the country, I was permitted to see Paulina, and to ask from her a ratification of the engagement entered into by oiu- parents; and 280 THE NEW GIL BLAS. this was not refused ; but when, after one stolen interview, I urged her to grant me another, I was unable to obtain this boon from Paulina, who sufficiently explained her refusal, by telling me that my brother, after having attempted to displace me from her alBfections, had more than once tried to obtain her confidence, and proofs of her regard, by counterfeiting me ; and rather than run the risk of exposing Paulina to such attempts, I agreed to forego the pleasure which I could not be sure of enjoying without a par- taker ; and so exchanging vows of affection, and receiving from her one of her glossy ringlets, we agreed to wait the expiration of the term of probation (then about a year and a half) fixed upon by our parents, contenting ourselves in the meanwhile with those casual opportunities of mutual intelligence, which lovers find even in the midst of witnesses. " And thus the time glided away tmtil the twentieth birth-day of myself and my brothers was at hand. Upon that day my father called us all into his presence, and addressed us nearly in the following words : — ' My children,' said he, ' it is not my design that you should settle in the world without having previously seen something of it: I am also desirous of ascertaining the capabilities of you, my two younger sons, that I may know which of you to intrust with a share THE NEW GIL BLAS. 281 of my confidence, and profits in tliat business whicli I have hitherto carried on so advantage- ously: as for you, my eldest son,' addressing me, 'I design that you shall reside at Castillo de Pedralba, when a certain event in contem- plation takes place, because the superintendence of the conjoined estates will require your pre- sence; and besides, the large possessions of the heir of Castillo de Pedralba will then render it mmecessary for him to combine the objects of trade with the duties of a proprietario, as my narrower means have obliged me to do. Never- theless, I mean to make trial of your abilities and judgment, as well as of your brothers. My children, fourteen days have yet to elapse before your twentieth birth-day; employ that interval in making preparations for a journey of twelve months, and in considering into what channel of commerce you will turn the sum I mean now to put into your hands ; you have not lived here so long without having acquired some knowledge of commerce, and you know I have done my best to improve it. You will each of you direct your steps to whatever quarter of the world may seem to promise most : return hither on your twenty- first birth-day ; and on that day,' turning to me, ' I will arrange that your marriage with the heiress of Montelimar shall take place. Which- ever of you, my two younger sons, shall have 282 THE NEW GIL BLAS. turned to the best account the hundred thousand reals, which, in gold doubloons, are contained in each of these purses, shall immediately divide with me the cares and profits of my trade : for him who may prove himself less skilful, I design an employment in which less skill is required : and as for you,' again addressing me, ' if you should prove less successful than either of your brothers, your gold shall be given to him whose success has been second :' and so saying, he put into the hands of each a purse, containing specie to the amount of a hundred thousand reals. ' Gaston,' said he, detaining me as we were all three leaving the room, ' there is little enough time for the necessary preparation for your jour- ney ; you must not therefore waste any part of it in journeying to Montelimar ; in a few weeks I shall myself be there, and I promise you I will inform the Senora Paulina that it was by my commands you set out upon your journey with- out seeing her.' " To this prohibition I was unwillingly obliged to yield obedience ; and I immediately began to consider in what kind of commerce I should engage, and whither I should direct my steps. After some consideration, I resolved upon taking my passage in a vessel bound for Smyrna, of which I also engaged a part of the freight, laying out my doubloons in the purchase of THE NEW GIL BLAS. 283 wrought silks ; and I was agreeably surprised to learn, tliat a part of the same freight had been engaged by my brother Antonio, who had also turned his eyes towards the east, but who had chosen an article of commerce different from that which I had selected. Neither of us knew any thing of the plans of our brother Battisto, who had disappeared from Alicante for several days, no one knew upon what errand, and who, when he returned, concealed his plans from every one. " The prospect of so long an absence from Spain was far from being agreeable to me ; but I dared not oppose myself to my father's wishes, and I looked forward with joyful anticipation, to that return which would unite me to Paulina : as for the success of my traffic, it was only a desire to retain my father's good opinion that ren- dered this a matter of any anxiety. On the day preceding our twentieth birth-day, the vessel set sail for Smyrna. Prosperous breezes carried us to the Isle of Corsica; but as we entered the straits of Bonifacio the wind fell, and we were becalmed. At this time a small polacca hove in sight, also steering for the straits; and she, not being yet mider the shelter of the Sardinian coast, continued to near us after we were be- calmed, until she also was becalmed in the straits, at no greater distance from our vessel than a quarter of a league. 284 THE NEW GIL BLAS. " I had for some time kept my eye attentively upon the polaeca; and as she approached nearer, I turned the ship's telescope towards her, and continued my observation with the view of dis- covering whether she had come from the same port as ourselves, recollecting to have seen several polaeca ships and brigs in the harbour of Alicante. I had scarcely rested my eye upon the deck of the vessel, when two men, who were seated at the stern, rose, and almost immediately disappeared below deck ; but the short glimpse which the telescope had afforded me, enabled me to distinguish one as a well - known bravo of Alicante, an excellent swordsman, and a man of infamous character ; while the face and person of the other, although not so distinctly seen, from being more muffled up, led me strongly to believe that in him I saw my brother Battisto. I therefore entertained no doubt that he, as well as Antonio and myself, had determined upon trading to the east; and it was nothing extraor- dinary, but rather in unison with his character, that he had concealed his plans from us, and had hired a vessel to carry him whithersoever he might be bound, even although to the same port as that for which our ship was destined. I was at a loss, indeed, to account for the appearance of the bravo, apparently his companion, as no commercial speculation could have carried a THE NEW GIL BLAS. 285 person of his character and vocation from Alicante. " It was still day, when a light air springing up astern, the polacca again made sail ; and while our deep-laden vessel lay without receiving any impulse from the large sails that flapped to and fro, — the other, setting her studding-sails and stay-sails, moved through the water, n eared us, and glided past. Neither of the individuals I had seen, were then upon deck. We hailed her — " whither bound ? " — "to Zante;" and we speedily lost sight of her behind one of the islets that lie under the Sardinian shore. After a tedious voyage of five weeks, and having with difficulty escaped being wrecked on the rocky island of Serphanto, we cast anchor in the bay of Smyrna. " It was about a week after my arrival at Smyrna, that while sauntering late one evening among the hesesteijis, some of which were shut, though some were still open to customers, I perceived two men loitering near ; one of whom instantly recalled my brother Battisto to my recollection ; and the other, with quite as much distinctness, him whom I had seen on the deck of the polacca in the straits of Bonifacio. I was upon the point of springing forward to as- certain if my conjecture were well founded; but recollecting the mystery that seemed to accom- 286 THE NEW GIL BLAS. pany my brother's plans — if, indeed, tliis were he; and the dangerous company in which I found him — I hesitated ; and before I had made up my mind, the individuals had disappeared. Alas ! I have sufficient cause to remember that night. Taking a circuitous route to my own house, I was met upon my arrival with the ap- palling spectacle of my dear brother Antonio's body, pierced with many wounds. Those who bore him, related, that the sound of a fray had been heard; and that upon approaching the spot, two stranger Franks were seen retiring; and the body was found upon the street in the condition in which I beheld it. " As a description of my feelings at this mo- ment would have no connexion with the events of my story, I shall leave you to imagine what I felt: however painful was the suspicion that arose in my mind, it nevertheless took root ; but I was at the same time totally unable to under- stand the motive that could have dictated this act of cruelty towards my brother Antonio. Hated as I knew myself to be by my brother Battisto ; rivals, as I had every reason to believe we were, for the favour of the Seiiora Paulina; and envied by him as the future possessor of the patrimonial inheritance, — as well as of Monteli- mar; it would have surprised me less, if the out- rage had been committed upon myself: though THE NEW GIL BLAS. 287 I was far from being prepared to believe that my brother would carry his enmity to so great lengths; but that my brother Antonio had been selected as the victim, seemed inexpKcable. The events, however, which afterwards laid open the dark plot, sufficiently accomited for this appa- rent mystery. " Thinking it possible that my surmises might perhaps be too hasty ; and feeling it to be a duty incumbent upon me (as the brother of Antonio) to instigate some inquiry respecting his murderer, I demanded an investigation ; and this, accompanied by the promise of ample re- ward, soon procured the intelligence, — that the same evening my brother met his death, an in- dividual, whose description answered to that of Battisto, embarked in a Greek vessel bound for Negropont; and the other individual against whom my suspicions were excited, was speedily seized and brought into judgment by my de- scription of his person ; as it was impossible however for me to adduce any evidence against him, he was dismissed. But the information wliich I had gathered, sufficiently proved to my mind, that some league for an evil purpose existed between my brother Battisto and this bravo. In place of aiming any longer at con- cealment, I now met him at every turn ; in whatever direction I walked or rode, he met or 288 THE NEW GIL BLAS. overtook me ; and by the grossest insults en- deavoured to provoke me into a quarrel, whieli I studiously avoided; but at length, meeting him at a private entertainment given by an Ita- lian merchant at his villa near Smyrna, to which he had by some means contrived to be imdted, he offered openly an affront so unpardonable to a man of honour, that there was no longer any escape from the encounter to which it had long been his evident intention to force me. We secretly retired from the entertainment to a se- cluded spot near at hand; and I had scarcely time to put myself upon my guard, ere the point of my opponent's sword was thrust into the eye — of which I am now blind ; occasioning a wound precisely similar to that formerly in- flicted upon my unfortunate brother. I did not then comprehend the reason why the destruction of the eye had been aimed at, nor did I even know that it had been aimed at all : but all this was quickly explained; and proved to be a ne- cessary part of the plan laid for my ruin, — which I have already told you has been accomplished by means of this misfortune. " I need not detai^l to you the events that fol- lowed ; the commiseration which the loss of my eye excited, or the commercial speculations in which I busied myself; let me hasten to the time when I was made acquainted with the full extent of my misfortune. THE NEW GIL BLAS. 289 " The year of my absence being- nearly ex- pired, and having laid out the profit of my speculation from Alicante, in the purchase of mohair, amber, musk, and certain gums, I set sail in a vessel bound for Leghorn ; and having after a prosperous voyage to that part, turned all my merchandise into money, I took shipping to Barcellona, and journeyed to Alicante by land, that I might be able to calculate more certainly upon arriving on the appointed day. " As I proceeded upon my journey, my mind was filled with the brightest visions of the future. I could not suppose for a moment, that the loss of an eye would change the heart of Paulina ; and I mused, without any feeling of uneasiness, upon the odd change that had taken place in the family likenesses, — for the likeness between Battisto and myself was at an end; while on the other hand, I had become the image of my brother Antonio. Well, I thought, one good at least has arisen out of my mis- fortime — it will no longer be in the power of Battisto to deceive my Paulina. My mind then reverted to Smyrna, and the suspicions I had entertained of Battisto, as being concerned in the death of Antonio ; but as I approached nearer to home, and as the recollections of childhood, and the days in which we had all loved each other, forced themselves upon me, I VOL. I. o •290 THE NEW GIL BLAS. almost dismissed from my mind the suspicions I had entertained, and even blamed myself for having ever harboured them. ' O no ! ' I said to myself, ' Antonio fell by the hand of the bravo, with whom he had doubtless quarrelled, and I have been mistaken in the person of Bat- tisto.' " It was late, on the evening before our twenty-first birth-day, when I found myself at my father's door : it was partly open, and I walked in, proceeding straight to the well- remembered room in which my father and my brothers had been accustomed to assemble in the evening. The room was dimly lighted, and at the farther end sat my brother Battisto, clad in a deep mourning suit, and apparently busily employed in wi'iting. " No sooner did he hear footsteps, than turn- ing towards the door, and starting from his seat, he advanced to meet me with a sorroM^ul coun- tenance, though not altogether devoid of such a subdued smile as is natm-al to one who, in the midst of sorrow, advances to receive a dear friend. " ' Welcome,' said he, extending his hand to me ; ' welcome back, my dear brother Antonio — but alas ! it is under afflicting circumstances that we meet,' " Totally forgetful at the moment of all my THE NEW GIL BLAS. 291 suspicions of Battisto's knowledge of Antonio's death, and recollecting only that I might now well be mistaken for him, I answered, ' Alas ! he whom you take me for, is dead ; I am not Antonio, but Gaston : but tell me, Battisto, what new misfortune has fallen upon us ; I fear there is some calamity more fresh than the loss of our dear Antonio, — is our father well ? ' " While I continued speaking, my brother's countenance assumed an expression, first of astonishment, and then of displeasure. * Anto- nio,' said he, ' this is not a time for jesting : our brother Battisto has not returned, — and perhaps never may return ; rumour says that he died in a foreign land : we have had diiferences, — but God knows that I forgive him, and would give Castillo de Pedralba that he were yet alive ; — his jealousy of the first-born was natural, — but alas ! my brother, how shall I find words to tell you, that our beloved father was this day con- signed to the tomb ; fortunately, I, his first- born, and — forgive me, Antonio — perhaps his favourite son, — returned in time to receive his last sigh.' •' While my brother Battisto spoke, the asto- nishment which had at first appeared in his countenance, was naturally tranferred to mine ; and an indistinct gleam of the truth had begun to shine upon my mind, when hearing the an- o 2 292 THE NEW GIL BLAS. nouncement of my father's death, I exclaimed-, as he concluded, ' Dead ! Battisto — ah ! why did you consign our parent to the grave before the arrival of his Gaston, who might at least have had the melancholy duty of laying his honoured head in it.' " ' Brother,' said Battisto, ' this jesting is surely ill-timed, — if you had two eyes, I would believe that you were Battisto, and that he de- sired to cheat me of my rights, — but as for this unseasonable merriment, 't is not like my good brother Antonio ; but pray leave me at present, to make an end of some writings re- specting my nuptials with the Senora Paulina de Novelda, which take place to-morrow.' " Before my brother had made an end of this reply, I had sketched in my mind the outline of the whole train of villany that had been planned and executed. I saw that Battisto's determina- tion was, to personate me; and thus to secure the paternal inheritance, as well as the heiress of Montelimar : I now comprehended the myste- rious tragedy that had been acted at Smyrna — to have made away with me, would have been a less certain game ; both because the disappear- ance of the heir might have excited suspicions against the second son ; and because the dislike which Battisto well knew Paulina entertained towards him, might have frustrated his designs THE NEW GIL BLAS. 293 had he appeared before her in his own character. On the other hand, the plan schemed by my unnatural brother, involved neither of these dif- ficulties. By rendering me the precise image of Antonio, and disposing of him, he had got entirely rid of me; and knowing well that no claimant with two eyes could appear, and that every one knew his brother Antonio to be one- eyed, he was in a condition to maintain the imposture against all the world. " As this train of thought passed through my mind, I perceived how impossible it would be for me to establish my rights; and even how nearly it would resemble imposture, were I to tell Paulina, that accident had made me the exact likeness of Antonio, and yet that I should be miable to confirm this story by the appear- ance of Antonio. All this while, I continued standing in the room, but without speaking a syllable ; Mobile Battisto had cabnly resumed his writing, as if nothing had taken place. " The extreme of impudent daring on his part was so altogether novel, that I felt bewildered, and could scarcely believe in it. I had heard of men personating each other, but never before had I heard of one man personating another to his face. Here was I, Gaston — and there sat my brother Battisto; but this Battisto calmly asserted that he was me, — that I was another 294 THE NEW GIL BLAS. person, — and that he himself was dead ! Had it not been for the importance of the stake at issue, I might almost have been tempted to smile at so unheard-of effrontery. But my dilemma chiefly arose from the difficulty of perceiving any way by which I could extricate myself from the toils of my brother. Every one knew that Antonio was one-eyed, — what proof had I more than my own assertion, that anytliing so unlikely had taken place as that I had lost my eye like him, — and that he was dead ! Would not all men rather believe that Antonio, the one-eyed, stood before them, and that he had contrived tliis tale to gain the inheritance of his brother ! ! " At length, however, recovering in some degree, from the stupefaction into which the hardihood of my brother had thrown me, and remembering only his villany, and my own rights; I said, with as much calmness as the circumstances would permit, ' Battisto, I can no longer doubt your intention of defrauding me of my paternal inheritance, and of even attempting to deceive Seriora de Novelda: the first, your villany may possibly accomplish, — the second, I think you will find more difficult: I am ac- quainted with every part of your scheme, — I know that you followed me to Smyrna, — I know that you hired a ruffian to disfigure me, and to murder our brother; I know it all, Battisto, — and you know that you are a villain.' THE NEW GIL BLAS. 295 " ' And if I am a villain, and if all this be true, what then?' said he, laying down his pen, and looking me full in the face ; ' how, I say, will this knowledge benefit you; who do you think will believe your tale ? Santa Maria,' continued he, holding towards me the taper that stood before him, and at the same time bursting into a fit of laughter ; * he has done the thing to a nicety! — why, if I did not know you to be Gaston, I could peril Castillo de Pedralba that the blind eye belonged to Antonio.' " The unblushing avowal of villany which I had just heard, joined with the intolerable mockery of mirth, roused me into passion. ' Villain — mur- derer !' I said, ' you will live to rue your crimes: as you have killed Antonio, so also, I have no doubt, you liave killed our father ;' as I said this, I could perceive a slight tremor pass over his countenance : ' but,' continued I, ' your projects are yet but half accomplished: to-morrow, the judge shall determine between our rights ; and as for your wicked intention of deceiving Pau- lina, I fear you not.' " The answer of Battisto was, drawing from his bosom a small packet, and displaying a lock of hair, which I instantly knew to be Paulina's. ' This,' said he, ' is a love-favour; how and when obtained, you may possibly guess. Let me advise you, as a friend, not to expose yourself 296 THE NEW GIL BLAS. to ridicule. Paulina believes that I am dead, on the authority of a forged letter MTitten in Antonio's name to his father, from Smyrna ; she knows that, of the two remaining brothers, Gaston only has two eyes ; and she will scarcely believe that one-eyed Antonio is two-eyed Gaston; or that Battisto has come alive to de- ceive her; and besides, even if you could prevail upon her to believe your story, think you that she would not prefer a husband with two eyes to him who has only one !' " I restrained with, difficulty the passion that boiled within me; and hastily leaving the room, I shut myself up in my own chamber, where I had leisure to contemplate the gulph into which the villany of my brother was precipitating me. I could perceive no means of throwing off the entanglements he had spread around me; — my inheritance I looked upon as having already passed from me; — and even Paulina, if she be- lieved Battisto to be dead, could not avoid yielding to the evidence of her senses, in also believing him with two eyes to be Gaston: and yet I entertained a confident persuasion, that she would sooner or later discover the trick that was put upon her, — though, in all probability, not before the nuptials should be completed. Could I but see her,' said I, 'I am certain I could con- vince her of my identity;' and I resolved early THE NEW GIL BLAS. 297 next day to set out for Montelimar, that I might see Paulina before she was led to the altar. " The whole of this night I passed in pacing up and down my chamber, contriving plans for establishing my identity, and perceiving their instability almost as soon as they were reared ; lamenting, even with tears, the hopelessness of my condition ; cursing the cruelty and perfidy of my brother; and, above all, distracted at the possibiKty of losing Paulina. At times it all seemed but a wild and improbable fiction, — a mere dream. ' Impossible ! ' I said ; ' it cannot be that Paidina is thus to be snatched from me; — does not she love me? — are we not pledged? Ridiculous, to suppose that I am to be cheated out of all by a mere trick : I am still Gaston — still the first-born — still the beloved of Paulina : I will hold fast my rights, and crush my xmnatural brother.' But while I boldly soli- loquized in this manner, I happened to turn in front of a large mirror — Antonio, not Gaston, was reflected in it. Alas ! thought I, as I stood silently contemplating the damning contradiction of my identity, — alas ! what signifies my know- ledge that I am Gaston ? He spoke truly, when he said, ' Who will believe your tale ?' who, indeed! men can but judge with their eyes; — but then, with Paulina, there are other means of intelligence: I can remind her of a thousand o2 298 THE NEW GIL BLAS. things known only to the true Gaston. And thus I endeavoured to persuade myself that all was not lost. " Scarcely had the morning dawned, when I hastened to carry my complaint before the au- thorities of the city; and a story of such out- rageous injustice and oppression, as I told, instantly procured an order for the attendance of my brother to answer to the charge pre- ferred against him. As I returned from the house of the chief magistrate, I met several persons known to myself or my family. ' Ah, Seiior Antonio,' said one, ' you are returned then at last.' ' My dear friend,' said another, of whom I knew but little, but who had been the intimate friend of Antonio, ' how glad I am to see you, your brother Gaston told me he expected you last night;' at the same time shaking me violently by the hand. I saw that it would be in vain to say, ' I am not Antonio, but Gaston.' I should only be thought mad, or an imposter ; and my heart died within me, as judging from what I saw, I augured the probable termination of my appeal to the magistrate. " Battisto yielded instant obedience to the order for his appearance; and the alcalde having taken his chair, said, addressing me, ' I under- stand your complaint to be this : you allege that he who calls himself Gaston, the eldest son of THE NEW GIL BLAS. 299 the late worthy gentleman Senor de Pedralba, is not Gaston, but Battisto his brother; and you assert that you whom he calls Antonio, is not Antonio but Gaston, whom he pretends to be; — is it so ? ' " ' This, said I, ' is my statement.' " ' And how,' returned the magistrate, ' do you propose to prove the truth of your state- ment? For since I saw you this morning, I have learned that there are many persons in this city, and I doubt not that some are in this court, ready to prove that he, whom you say you are, had both eyes; and that he, whom your brother says you are, had one eye, as you have: how do you get the better of such evidence ?' " In reply to this, I told the magistrate the whole story as it happened, and then said, ' there are many in Smyrna who could prove that I speak the truth.' " ' ' T is a long way to send to Smyrna for a witness,' said the magistrate; ' and besides, the oath of a Spaniard is as good as the oath of a Turk: have you any witnesses?' continued he, addressing my brother, who stood all this while with a countenance of the utmost indiiference. " ' Many,' replied he ; and immediately a host of persons stept forward, and swore positively that I was no other than Antonio, — and that Battisto was no other than Gaston. 300 THE NEW GIL BLAS. " ' This,' said the magistrate, ' looks very like imposture; — if we had any evidence that Bat- tisto is dead, then — but indeed without this the case is clear.' " ' I have such evidence,' said my brother ; ' and first, the servants of my father, as well as several of his friends, averred, that some months ago, Seiior de Pedralba had received intimation of his son Battisto's death ;' — but this was not all ; forward stepped the villain to whom I directly owed the loss of my eye; and he swore upon the Holy Evangelists, that he had seen the dead body of Battisto at Smyrna.' " ' There is no doubt,' said the magistrate, ' of this being a piece of roguery, — and very clumsily contrived, too. It is proved, that Seiior Battisto is dead ; it is proved also, that one of the two remaining sons of Seiior de Pedralba was one-eyed; and that he is Antonio, the youngest; therefore the only other must be Gaston, who has two eyes, — and who conse- quently, cannot be any other than the person against whom this wicked complaint is brought. The ends of justice must be looked to, — ana this imposter must not escape punishment.' " ' Do not, I entreat you, be severe,' said Battisto; ' the ends of justice will be sufficiently answered by a short imprisonment, — God forbid that I should be vindictive ; I freely forgive him THE NEW GIL BLAS. 301 — and if you, Senor, be disposed to remit punish- ment altogether — ' " ' Not altogether,' said the magistrate ; — and I was just beginning to exclaim against the injustice of the proceedings, when I was laid hold of, and hurried away to prison. " I had never contemplated a result like this : I had thought it likely indeed, that I might obtain no advantage by my appeal; but I cal- culated upon a more successful appeal to the heart of Paulina, and had ordered mules, which were even then waiting at the door of the court, to carry me with all speed to Montelimar. But now, all seemed lost — and my heart simk within me. My brother had doubtless foreseen this result ; and hence had arisen his great readiness to meet my appeal. I well knew he was artful enough to avoid all opportunities of private, or confidential communication with Paulina; I knew that the usages of the country, as well as the timidity natural to a bride, would aid his scheme ; and I knew also, that he possessed the same love-pledge that I myself possessed — no doubt obtained by him stealthily, or by decep- tion, at the time when he disappeared for some days from Alicante previous to our departure for Smyrna — alas ! how could PauKna escape the toils that were spread for her ? and I sorrowed as much over her misfortune, as over my own 302 THE NEW GIL BLAS. — for if Battisto should prove successful, how wretched would be the fate of my gentle Paulina, linked with so consummate a villain ! " Disfigured, — over-reached, — cheated of my inheritance, — robbed of my hopes, — infamy was now added to my misfortunes ; I was branded as a rogue, — treated as an imposter, — and thrown into a common prison ; and while I still con- tinued in captivity, sometimes raging like a wild beast in his cage, — sometimes sunk in the lowest despair ; one day, and another day passed away ; and the hour had doubtless gone by, when Pau- lina, — my own — my plighted Paulina, was led from the altar, the wife of my brother ! My brain was on fire — agony, disappointment, fury, and despair, alternately wrought within, and stung me into madness. I could have torn my brother piece-meal, — and trampled upon the living world : I threw myself against the door of my prison, and wrenched the iron bars of its window, till I fell from exhaustion, — my hands dripping with blood. At length, upon the fifth day of my confinement, the door of my prison was thrown open, and I was told I was at liberty. " As I mechanically took the road to Monte- limar, scarcely a gleam of hope found its way to my heart : it is all over, I said, — she is long ere this the wife of Battisto : but I still went onward ; and in a few hours I saw the groves THE NEW GIL BLAS. 303 of date trees that lie arouiid the village. As I hurried rapidly forward, that suspense might be exchanged for the more tolerable agony of cer- tainty, I perceived the Cura of the village coming towards me. " ' Ah, my son,' said he, ' you are too late, — the festivities are over. The houses of Pedralba and Novelda are united.' " It was enough, — I was indeed too late ; Paulina was for ever lost to me. I turned from the village without entering it ; determined to leave for ever, the scenes of my happy youth, and miserable manhood ; and pursuing my way westward through Murcia, I at length reached Granada. The means of support with which I was but scantily provided when I left Alicante, were soon expended, — and at Granada, I found myself without a real : but still I went on, insen- sible to hardships, and careless of life, until I arrived at Malaga. There, for more than a month, I picked up a precarious subsistence by seeking for shell-fish, and selling them, — until the morning when I accosted you, as you were passing towards the quay. " This, sir, is the whole of my story, — and now that you have heard it, you will allow that it is possible for a man to be ruined through the loss of an eye." CHAPTER XIX. BEING THE CONTINUATION OF THE VOYAGE TO ALICANTE; AND CONCLUDING WITH THE SEQUEL OF THE ENTER- TAINING STORY OF GASTON DE PEDRALBA, THE ONE- EYED. , " Truly, my friend," said I, when Gaston made an end of his story, " I was mistaken in sup- posing that the loss of one eye could not prove a man's ruin : it is indeed too clearly shown by your history, that such may be the case. This brother of yours, Battisto, deserves to be sent to the gallies ; and who knows what may yet turn up? — crimes like his, seldom pass unpu- nished, — and as for that charming senorita, she has no doubt discovered ere this, the trick that has been played, and may welcome back the true Gaston." " Ah !" replied he, " my Paulina is too vir- tuous to break the solemn vows she has taken, even although she has been deceived." " Nay," said I, " you are over scrupulous ; THE NEW GIL BLAS. 305 Paulina lias pledged her vows to Gaston, not to Battisto: if one man sells another a cask of wine, which turns out to be water, 't is no bar- gain : in truth, Paulina is at this moment your wife, — not Battisto's." " It may be so," said he ; " but in the mean- time, all the advantage lies with him :" and in such discoiu-se as this we passed ovu- time, sitting upon deck, until it grew dark, — and next morn- ing we found that we were approaching Alicante, ha\dng long before descried the castle, perched like an eagle's nest upon the summit of the high rock that hangs over the town, — and the long line of coast stretching to the eastward, which was the coast of Valencia — the richest and most charming province in the king of Spain's domi- nions, — surpassed by none in the variety and excellence of its productions ; the beauty of its cities, and the magnificence of its ruins; the salubrity of its climate, and the unfading ver- dure of its fields; and equalled by few in the manly virtues of its men, and the seductive graces of its women. A little before sunset, we dropped anchor in the basin. During the afternoon, the agitation of my companion had been great as he approached the city, which he had quitted under such distressing circumstances, : but how was his agitation in- creased by the spectacle that awaited him. 306 THE NEW GIL BLAS. The ship had come to anchor, and I was standing upon deck, watching from the stern two other vessels, that were gliding majesti- cally into the harbour, when suddenly I heard my companion, who stood near, exclaim, " Jesus Maria ! " — and turning towards him, I perceived that his face was overspread with a deadly pale- ness, — his whole frame trembled violently, — and his gaze was intently, wildly fixed upon a number of men chained together, who, upon the deck of a large mastless ship, were raising, by a windlass, mud and sand from the bottom of the harbour. " Look yonder," said he, " do you see among these men, one — " There was no occasion to say more. " I see, I see," said I, " one the image of yourself, but that he has both eyes." " 'T is my brother you see," said he eagerly ; " it is Battisto ! — gracious God, how came he there, — a convict — and chained." " It is easily comprehended," said I ; " his crimes have been discovered, and Paulina will yet be yours." " Alas ! my poor guilty brother," said he ; " let us hasten on shore, that we may learn more of this." We accordingly lost no time in presenting ourselves before the same magistrate who had formerly judged the case. He expressed much THE NEW GIL BLAS. 307 pleasure, and some surprise, at seeing Gaston ; mingled, however, witli considerable embarrass- ment ; for which there was scarcely any occa- sion, — for had I myself been judge, I could not have decided otherwise than he had done. " Take this," said he, hastily writing a few lines, " to the prison, and you will there receive the information you desire, more correctly than I am able to give it. I may, however, tell you, that the confession of Rodrigo Garcia, which you are about to read, was made by him when on his death-bed, — he having been mortally wounded in the prosecution of some villanous purpose." We hastened to the prison, where upon pre- senting the order from the alcalde, the paper in question was put into our hands ; and unfolding it with the utmost impatience, we read, — THE CONFESSION OF RODRIGO GARCIA. " Feeling the approach of death, and anxious for the consolations of religion, which cannot be administered without a full confession of my crimes; and assured by my ghostly confessor, that as my life had been stained with innocent blood, to the shedding of which others than myself have been accessory, — it is a duty I owe 308 THE NEW GIL BLAS. to society, as well as necessary to the safety of my own soul, that I make a written and a full confession of all the crimes, &c." — and the con- fession then detailed many dark deeds in which the wretched man had been a participator, which having no connexion with this history, I pass over, — and it then proceeded in these words : — " But no transaction in which I have cA^er been engaged, weighs heavier upon my conscience than that into which I entered with Battisto de Pedralba; of which the following are the par- ticulars : — " I engaged myself, for a certain sum of money and future advantages, to enter into his service for one year, and during that time to obey him in all respects, even although the lives of others should be sacrificed ; provided always that my own safety could be secured. " Battisto hired a vessel, in which we em- barked for Smyrna, — and during the voyage he explained the nature of the services required of me, and laid open his own project; which was to obtain his father's inheritance, and the hand of the Senora de Novelda. I agreed to execute all that he required of me ; and we reached Smyrna, after passing in the straits of Boni- facio, the vessel in which were the brothers of my employer. " After that ship arrived at Smyrna, my pa- THE NEAV GIL BLAS. 309 tron and myself watched a favourable oppor- tunity to make away with one of the brothers, whose name was Antonio, — this being the first part of the scheme, — and this we speedily ac- complished. In the pocket of the murdered man were several papers in his own handwriting — and as the imitation of writing has always been familiar to me, and has often been neces- sary to the execution of my wicked projects, my patron dictated a letter to his father at Alicante, relating how his son Battisto had been found dead in the streets; and to this letter I signed the name of Antonio, so that not even he him- self, had he been living, could have distinguished it from his own hand. " The next part of the scheme was, to pick a quarrel with my patron's remaining brother, Gaston, the eldest, and force him to a combat ; when my instructions were to wound him in the left eye, so that he should be deprived of it in the same manner as he who was murdered had been: a task of no great difficulty to me, so adroit as I am in the use of the small sword — and this I also accomplished. My last orders were, to meet my patron at Marseilles a week before the expiration of the year during which my services were engaged. I met him : ' Come to my house, ' said he, ' and sup with me : ' and as we walked along the street, he said, ' you will see no one 310 THE NEW GIL BLAS. but my father, — thig is the last important service I require of you, — take this : ' putting a very small phial into my hand ; ' I will withdraw his attention, while you — you understand me?' I did understand him. We met the old man at supper. ' Come,' said my employer, when sup- per was ended, ' let us pledge a glass to the health and speedy return of our dear Antonio ; ' and while he, affecting to be seized with sudden sickness, withdrew the attention of his father, I emptied the contents of the phial into the goblet of wine that was already poured out. It is well known, that Seiior de Pedralba died that night. " To this confession I have only to add, that I was despatched the next morning to Monte- limar, as the confidential messenger of Gaston, to bear to Seiiora Paulina the intelligence, that his father was dead. I was also instructed to say, that the grief into which he was plunged, must be accepted by the Seiiora as an apology why I was not the bearer of a letter; and that the care of the funeral obsequies and other weighty matters, would prevent him from being at Montelimar, until the day upon which it had been long resolved that he should be permitted to claim the hand of the Seiiora at the altar ; and I was also desired to say, that Seiior de Pedralba had, before he died, strictly charged THE NEW GIL BLAS. 311 his son that his death should not postpone those nuptials which, had he been permitted to live, would have afforded him so much gratification to witness ; and along with these instructions, I was the bearer of credentials, — which consisted in a lock of hair, to be shown to the Senora Paulina, as the evidence of my being the mes- senger of Gaston. This commission I faithfully executed ;_and by the request of Paulina, the greater part of what I had said to her, I repeated to her father, and to the Seiiora her mother : and I request that a copy of this confession may be sent to the Senora Paulina, that her eyes may be opened to the villany and deceit of which she has been made the victim." " And was a copy of this confession sent to Senora Paulina?" said Gaston, turning to the individual who waited to receive back the paper. "It was," repKed he : " the same messenger who went to Montelimar to arrest the husband of that lady, was the bearer of a certified copy of this confession." " This," said I, as we turned away from the prison, " explains every mystery, and con- firms all that you but guessed at in your nar- rative." " I am yet in doubt," returned Gaston, " upon the most essential matter of all ; for is not Pau- lina yet the wife of my brother, convict though 312 THE NEW GIL BLAS. he be ? but let us to Montelimar without delay ; it is at least some consolation to know, that Paulina is undeceived, and will receive me as Gaston.' To Montelimar accordingly we hastened ; and passing by Castillo de Pedralba, we proceeded straight to the house of Seiior de Novelda. " Is the Seiiora de Pedralba within?" said I, addressing the porter who answered our sum- mons. " There is no Seiiora de Pedralba here," said he; " but Dona Paulina de Novelda is within. It is perhaps that lady for whom your Grace inquires." "Hear you that?" said I, turning to my companion: he had heard, — and darting past the porter, he bounded across the court, leaving to me the honour of being marshalled to the door. It was several minutes before tardy etiquette conducted me into the house, and the door of the saloon being thrown open, I found Gaston and Paulina locked in each other's arms : they seemed to have lost the power of utterance, — but tears, those strange evidences of joy as well as of sorrow, fell fast upon Pau- lina's quick-heaving bosom. I found the young Murcian quite as charm- ing as Gaston had represented her. She w^as indeed an exquisite creature ; and when I looked THE NEW GIL BLAS. 313 at her, I could scarcely blame the extravagances of which her lover had been guilty, in dashing himself against the door of his prison and lace- rating his hands in WTenching the bars that sepa- rated him from her, — though such actions had seemed to me at the time, strange lengths to go, for the sake of a woman. After the first transports of joy were over, the inquiring looks of Gaston plainly told his mistress, how anxious he was to learn upon what footing she stood with his brother. "I am sure, Gaston," said she, "you are dying with curiosity to know all that passed between me and your wicked brother ; and I long to tell you, almost as much as you long to hear:" and so, the lovely Paulina, seating her- self upon a sofa, upon which she permitted Gaston to place himself beside her, and with a look of confiding affection, placing her hand in his, gave the following narrative of the events of which we were both ignorant. " You have learned, from the confession of that monster Rodrigo, what means were taken by yom- brother Battisto to deceive me; I will therefore pass over the conversation I held with him, — it is enough to say, that I believed him to be the messenger of Gaston; and that in obe- dience to the dying wish of your father, I pre- pared to exchange with you at the altar, the VOL. I. p 314 THE NEW GIL BLAS. VOWS by which we had long been secretly bound to each other." Here Paulina east down her eyes, — a charm- ing blush spread over her cheeks, — and so be- witching did she look, that Gaston assuredly showed himself more than mortal in sparing her confusion, and in refraining from pressing to his bosom, the lovely girl whose lips had just been the ingenuous interpreters of her heart. " Battisto arrived at Montelimar on the ap- pointed day. All had been previously arranged by my father, — and I did not meet Battisto, until in my bridal dress, and covered by a thick white veil, I was conducted by my father to the chapel ; where, without once raising my eyes to the face of him who stood beside me, the ceremony was completed, and I left the altar, the wife, as I believed, of Gaston. I need not ask you if you remember the exchange of rings we made, on that only evening when we met in the palm-avenue. I wore at my nuptials the ring you gave me ; and as we returned from the chapel, I said to Battisto, ' Gaston, show me the ring you promised always to wear, — see, there is yours.' " ' Ah !' said he, ' I have forgotten it.' " This was unlike Gaston ; and I was mortified and slightly piqued. ' Are your promises so soon forgotten, Gaston ? ' I said : ' I should not THE NEW GIL BLAS. 315 wonder, if you have also forgotten tlie place where we exchanged these pledges;' and as I said this, I raised my eyes to his countenance for the first time. I did not doubt that it was the face of Gaston, — and yet, at that moment, Battisto rose to my recollection. ' Come, Gas- ton,' I said,' acknowledge that you have lost Paulina's ring; but lead her to the spot where she gave it, and she will pardon you, and give you another in its stead.' " Battisto would have evaded this request ; but I could not understand why Gaston should be unwilling to satisfy me, — and I said to him, ' I will not believe that you have already for- gotten the place;' and again I glanced at his countenance, — and again, while I believed that I looked upon Gaston, the memory of Battisto painfully flashed upon my mind. I will not say that I then suspected ; but I felt troubled. Many of my father's friends having been invited to partake in our festivities, I saw Battisto only in the midst of company ; but numerous trifling incidents occm-red during the day, to recall the painful feeling that had passed through my mind on our return from the chapel, and the recollec- tion of Battisto obtruded itself with unaccount- able, and unpleasant frequency upon my imagi- nation. At length, one insignificant word roused suspicion : it was my own name ; — till then, Bat- p2 316 THE NEW GIL BLAS. tisto had never during all the day said ' Paulina.' It was by that word, that I had before been able to detect the impositions he had practised in counterfeiting you — and no sooner had he said ' Paulina,' than his former attempts to personate you, rushed upon my memory. I know not, Gaston, by what sense I am able to distinguish your ' Paulina ' from the ' Paulina ' of all the world beside — but so it is. I said to myself, ' is it possible that I am deceived ?' and now that suspicion had taken possession of me, I watched every look, and word, and movement of Battisto, and a thousand insignificant, nameless, and yet obvious dissimilarities, speedily converted my suspicion almost into certainty. Gaston, you may easily imagine what perturbation filled the breast of your Paulina at this moment: indis- tinct fears for your safety were mingled with the horrible consciousness, that I had given myself to another, — and I resolved to avow my sus- picions to my father. " Before the festivities of the day had con- cluded, I drew my father from his guests, and opened my mind to him. ' Let me remain one month,' I said, ' under my father's roof: if he be indeed Gaston, no evil can result from tliis ; but if my suspicions be just !' ' It shall be as you desire,' said my father ; ' before a month shall have elapsed, something will, doubtless. THE NEW GIL BLAS. 317 occur to confirm your suspicions, if they be in- deed well founded; but I trust, my cliild, you are mistaken:' and my father undertook to assign to my husband some plausible reason for my conduct. " The next morning we learned that urgent affairs had called Battisto to Murcia; which was probably a contrivance that the month should pass away without affording many opportimities of increasing the suspicions which he must have been well assured I entertained. Six days after- wards he returned; and on the morning of the seventh day, a party of horsemen rode up to Montelimar, one of whom delivered a paper to be given to me; and they then galloped up the hill towards Castillo de Pedralba. I need not say that the paper proved to be the confession you have read, and that the party of horsemen was commissioned to arrest your brother. But my mind was far from being set at rest by the de- tails contained in the confession : it was, indeed, true, that the early discovery of yoiu* brother's crimes had saved me much misery, and I learned from it that your life, at least, had not been sacrified to your brother's projects; but still I was uncertain as to your fate, and I was the wife of another. " We were quickly informed of the condemn- ation of Battisto ; and immediately my father 318 THE NEW GIL BLAS. despatched a messenger to Rome with an authen- ticated copy of the confession, and a full state- ment of all that had taken place; and he also brought the affair before the court at Granada; and a month had scarcely elapsed, when we re- ceived the welcome intelligence, that the court at Granada had found that no marriage had ever taken place, as I had never consented to become the wife of Battisto — (here I cast a triumphant look at Gaston, who was, however, too much occupied with Paulina to notice my triumph), — and soon after, the messenger returned from Rome, bearing the decree of his holiness the Pope, by which the marriage, if any had taken place, was dissolved: and thus, Gaston, you see, that — " ' That you are, and ever have been, my own Paulina,' said Gaston, snatching her to his arms ; and the blushing girl, disengaging herself in a moment, said, ' Is he not my husband ! ' and allowing her head to fall gently upon his breast, added, ' It was to thee, Gaston, my heart offered its vows of love and obedience at the altar.' But Senor de Novelda, not quite satis- fied with this marriage of the heart, a few days afterwards conducted his daughter to the church, where Gaston and PauKna were united; and this time Paulina said not a word about remaining a month under her father's roof. Very different was the appearance of Gaston de Pedralba in the THE NEW GIL BLAS. 319 habiliments of a bridegroom, from tlie Gaston I had met on the quay at Malaga; and as I saw him in his own mansion, seated beside his charming bride, I could not but whisper in his ear, ' Sad ruin truly does the loss of an eye bring upon a man:' and this is all that I know of the liistory of Gaston de Pedralba, the one- eyed. END OF VOL. I. Manning and Smithson, Printers, London-hoase Yard, St. Paul's. l^