The Adventures of Gil Blas of Santillane by Alain René le Sage (good books to read in english .TXT) 📕

speech.

Some years before I was in office, chance threw me across a lady

of such shape and beauty as induced me to trace her home. I

learned that she was a Genoese, by name Donna Margarita Spinola,

supporting herself at Madrid on the income arising from her

beauty. It was reported that Don Francisco de Val�asar, an

officer about the court, a rich man, an old man, and a married

man, laid out his money very freely on this hazardous

speculation. These rumours ought to have deterred me; but they

only whetted my desires to share with Val�asar. To gain my end, I

had recourse to a female broker of tenderness, who adjusted the

terms of a private interview with the Genoese; and the price

current being settled, the traffic was frequently repeated; it

was an open market for my rival and me, or possibly for many

other bidders.

Let that be as it may, a choice boy was in the fulness of time

produced to the club, and the mother complimented every member

individually in private with the credit: but we were each of us

too modest to acknowledge a bantling which had so probable a

claim upon a better father; so that the Genoese was compelled to

maintain him on the profits of her profession: this she did for

eighteen years, and dying at the end of that period, has left her

son without a farthing, and what is worse, without an idea or an

accomplishment.

Such, continued his lordship, is the confidence I meant to repose

in you, and I shall now lay open the great design I have formed,

to draw this unfortunate child from his obscurity, reverse the

colour of his fate, raise him to the highest honours, and

acknowledge him as my son.

At so extravagant a project it was impossible not to be open-mouthed. What, sir, exclaimed I, can your excellency have adopted

so strange a resolution! Excuse my freedom; but my zeal cannot

restrain itself. You will be of my mind, replied he with

eagerness, when I shall have explained to you my motives. I have

no mind that my estates should descend in the collateral line.

You will tell me, that I am not so old as to despair of having

children by Madame d’Olivarez. But every one is best judge of his

own condition: know therefore that there is not a receipt in the

whole extent of chemistry which I have not tried, but without

effect, to appear once again in the character of a father.

Wherefore, since fortune, stepping in to cover the defects of

nature, presents me with a child whose parent after all I may

actually be, he is mine by adoption; that is a settled point.

When I found the minister determined, I no longer argued against

his resolution, as knowing him to be a man who would rather do a

foolish act of his own, than adopt a wise suggestion of another.

It only remains now, added he, to educate Don Henry Philip de

Guzman; for by that name I intend him to be known in the world,

till the time arrives when he may aspire to higher dignities.

You, my dear Santillane, I have chosen to superintend his

conduct: I have full confidence in your talents and friendship,

to regulate his household, direct his studies, and make him an

accomplished gentleman. I would willingly have declined the

office, as never having exercised the craft of a pedagogue, which

required much more genius and solidity than mine; but he shut my

mouth by saying it was his absolute determination that I should

be tutor to this adopted son, whom he designed for the first

offices of the monarchy. As a bribe for my compliance, his

lordship increased my little income with a pension of a thousand

crowns on the commandery of Mambra.

CH. V. — The son of the Genoese is acknowledged by a legal

instrument, and named Don Henry Philip de Guzman. Santillane

establishes his household, and arranges the course of his

studies.

THE act of adoption was soon legalized with the king’s consent

and good pleasure. Don Henry Philip de Guzman, as this descendant

from a committee of fathers was named, became acknowledged

successor to the earldom of Olivarez and the duchy of San Lucar.

The minister, to give the act all possible publicity,

communicated it through Carnero to the ambassadors and grandees

of Spain, who were somewhat startled. The jokers of Madrid were

not insensible to the ridicule, and the satirical poets made

their harvest of so fine a subject for their pen.

I asked my lord duke where my pupil was. Here in town, answered

he, with an aunt from whom I shall remove him as soon as you have

got a house ready. This I did immediately, and furnished it

magnificently. When my establishment was complete in servants and

officers, his excellency sent for this equivocal production, this

spurious offset from the renowned stock of the Guzmans. The lad

was tall and personable. Don Henry, said his lordship, pointing

to me, this gentleman is to be your tutor and introduce you into

the world; he has my entire confidence, and an unlimited

authority over you. After much good advice, and many compliments

to me, the minister retired, and I took Don Henry home.

As soon as we got thither, I introduced him to his household, and

explained the nature of each individual’s employment. He did not

seem at all disconcerted at the change of circumstances, but

received the obeisances of his dependants as if he had been a

lord by nature, and not by chance. He was not without mother-wit,

but ignorant in a deplorable degree; he could scarcely read and

write. I gave him masters for the Latin grammar, geography,

history, and fencing. A dancing-master of course was not

forgotten; but in an affair of the first consequence, selection

was difficult, for there were more eminent professors of that art

in Madrid than of all the languages and sciences put together.

While I was pondering on this difficulty, a man gaudily dressed

came into the court-yard and inquired for me. I went down,

supposing him to be at least a knight of some military or

privileged order. Signor de Santillane, said he, with a profusion

of bows which anticipated his line in life, I am come to offer

you my services as Don Henry’s governor. My name is Martin

Ligero, and I have, thank heaven, some reputation in the world. I

have no occasion to canvass for scholars; that is all very well

for petty dancing-masters! My custom is to wait till I am sent

for; but being a sort of appendage to the house of Guzman, and

having taught its various branches for a long period, I thought

it a point of respect to wait on you first. I perceive, answered

I, that you are just the man we want What are your terms? Four

double pistoles a month, answered he, and I give but two lessons

a week. Four doubloons a month! cried I, that is an exorbitant

price. Exorbitant! rejoined he with astonishment; why, it is not

more than eight times as much as you would give to a mathematical

master or a Greek professor.

There was no resisting so ludicrous a comparison of merit; I

laughed out right, and asked Signor Ligero whether he really

thought his talents worth more than those of the first

proficients in learning and science. Most assuredly, said he; at

least, if you measure our pretensions by their respective

utility. What sort of machines may those be which are fashioned

under their hands? Jointless puppets, unlicked cubs, open-mouthed

and impenetrable shell-fish; but our lessons supple and render

pliant the intractable stiffness of their component parts, and

bring them insensibly into shape: in short, we communicate to

them a graceful motion, a polite address, the carriage of good

company, and the outward marks of elevated rank.

I could not but give way to such cogent arguments in favour of

the dancing-master’s occupation, and engaged him about Dun

Henry’s person without haggling as to terms, since those

specified were only at the rate established by the leading

professors of the art.

CH. VI. — Scipio’s return from New Spain. Gil Blas places him

about Don Henry’s person. That young nobleman’s course of study.

His career of honour, and his father’s matrimonial speculation on

his behalf. A patent of nobility conferred on Gil Blas against

his will.

I HAD not yet half arranged Don Henry’s household, when Scipio

returned from Mexico. He brought with him three thousand ducats

in cash, and merchandise to double the amount. I wish you joy,

said I; the foundation of your fortune is laid; and if you prefer

a snug berth at Madrid to the risk of going back, you have only

to tell me so. There is no question about that, said the son of

Coselina: a genteel situation at home is far preferable to a

second voyage.

After relating the birth and adventures of the little adopted

Guzman, and my own appointment as tutor, I offered him the

situation of upper servant to this babe of chance: Scipio, who

could have devised nothing better for himself, readily accepted

the office, and within the small space of three or four days got

the length of his new master’s foot.

I had taken it for granted that that the verb-grinders and

concord-manufacturers to whom I had given the plant of this

Genoese bastard would lose stock and block, under the idea that

he was of an intractable and profitless age; but my forebodings

were completely reversed. He not only comprehended, but easily

retained the lessons of his masters, and they were very well

satisfied with him. I was in an enormous hurry to greet the ears

of my lord duke with this intelligence, and he received, it with

abundant joy. Santillane, exclaimed he with delight, you give me

new life by the assurance of Don Henry’s capacity and

application: it runs in the blood of the Guzmans; and I am the

more confirmed in his being unquestionably my own, because I am

just as fond of him as if Madame d’ Olivarez herself had lain in

of the brat in due form under this very roof. The voice of

nature, you perceive, will make itself heard. I thought it

unnecessary to give his lordship any opinion on that subject; but

with a delicate deference to his credulity, left him to enjoy his

fancied paternity in peace, whether well or ill founded.

Though all the Guzmans held this clod of newly turned up nobility

in utter scorn, they were politic enough to smooth over the

corrugations of their contempt; nay, some of them even affected

to languish for his good opinion: the ambassadors and principal

nobility then at Madrid waited on him, with all the ceremony

appertaining to the rank of a legitimate son. The minister,

intoxicated with the fumes of incense offered to his idol, began

to build a temple worthy of the worship. The cross of Alcantara

was the foundation, with a commandery of ten thousand crowns. The

next step was to a high office in the royal household, and the

completion of the whole was matrimony. Wishing to connect him

with a family of the first rank, he picked out Donna Johanna de

Velasco, daughter to the Duke of Castile, and had influence

enough to accomplish the alliance, though against the will of the

duke and of all his kindred.

Some days before the nuptial ceremony, his lordship put some

papers into my hand, saying: Here, Gil Blas, is a patent of

nobility which I have procured as the reward of your services. My

lord, answered I, in much astonishment, your excellency