Gil Blas by Alain-René Lesage (best romance books of all time TXT) 📕

alloy. It was by no means improbable that within three days the bona fide son of Juan Vélez de la Membrilla might come and interrupt our sport. This fear had for its foundation more than the weakness of our nerves. On the very next morning, a sort of clodpole, with a portmanteau across his shoulders, knocked at the door of Florence’s father. I was not at home at the time, but my colleague had to bear the brunt of it. ‘Sir,’ said the rustic to our sagacious friend, ‘I belong to the young gentleman at Calatrava who is to be your son-in-law⁠—to Señor de la Membrilla. We have both just come off our journey: he will be here in an instant, and sent me forward to prepare you for his arrival.’ Hardly had these unaccountable tidings been announced, when the master appeared in person; which stretched the old fellow’s blinkers into a stare, and put Moralez a little to the blush.

“Young Pedro was what we call a tall fellow of his inches. He began at once paying his compliments to the master of the house; but the good man did not give him time to finish his speech, and turning towards my partner in iniquity, asked what was the meaning of all this. Hereupon Moralez, whose power of face was not to be exceeded by any human impudence, boldly asserted our identity, and said to the old gentleman, ‘Sir, these two men here before you belong to the gang which pillaged us on the highway. I have a perfect recollection of their features; and in particular could swear to him who has the effrontery to call himself the son of Señor Juan Vélez de la Membrilla.’

“The old citizen gulped down the lies of Moralez like nectar, and told the intruders, on the supposition of their being the impostors, ‘Gentlemen, you are come the day after the fair: the trick was a very good one, but it will not pass; the enemy has taken the ground before you. Pedro de la Membrilla has been under this roof since yesterday.’

“ ‘Have all your wits about you,’ answered the young man from Calatrava; ‘you are nursing a viper in your bosom. Be assured that Juan Vélez de la Membrilla has neither chick nor child but myself.’

“ ‘And what relation is the hangman to you?’ replied the old dupe: ‘you are better known than liked in this house. Can you look this young man in the face? or can you deny that you robbed his master?’

“ ‘If I were anywhere but under your roof,’ rejoined Pedro, in a rage, ‘I would punish the insolence of this scoundrel who fancies to pass me off for a highwayman. He is indebted for his safety to your presence, which puts a curb upon my choler. Good sir,’ pursued he, ‘you are grossly imposed on. I am the favored youth to whom your brother Austin has promised your daughter. Is it your pleasure for me to produce the whole correspondence with my father on the subject of the impending match? Will you be satisfied with Florence’s picture sent me by him as a present a little while before his death?’

“ ‘No,’ put in the old burgess crustily; ‘the picture will work just as strongly on my conviction as the letters. I am perfectly aware by what chance they all fell into your hands; and if you will take a stupid fellow’s advice, Mérida will soon be rid of such rubbish. A quick march may save you a trouncing.’

“ ‘This is beyond all bearing,’ screamed out the young roister with an overwhelming vehemence. ‘My name shall never be stolen from me, and assumed by a common cheat with impunity; neither shall my person be confounded with that of a freebooter. There are those in this town who can identify me; they are forthcoming, and shall expose the fallacy by which you are prejudiced against me.’ With this assurance he withdrew, attended by his servant, and Moralez kept possession of the field. The adventure had even the effect of determining Jerome de Moyadas to fix the wedding for the very time being. Accordingly he went his way, for the purpose of giving the necessary orders for the celebration.

“Though my colleague in knavery was well enough pleased to see Florence’s father in a humor so pat for our purposes, he was not without certain scruples of conscience about our safety. It was to be feared lest the probable proceedings of Pedro might be followed up by awkward consequences; so that he waited impatiently for my arrival, to make me acquainted with what had occurred. I found him over head and ears in a brown study. ‘What is the matter, my friend?’ said I; ‘seemingly there is something upon your mind.’

“ ‘Indeed there is, and something that will be minded,’ answered he. At the same time he let me into the affair. ‘Now you may judge,’ added he after a pause, ‘whether we have not some food for reflection. It is your ill star, rash contriver, which has thrown us into this perplexity. The idea, it must be confessed, was full of fire and ingenuity; had it answered in the application, your renown would have been emblazoned in the chronicles of our fraternity; but according to present appearances, the run of luck is against us, and my counsels incline to a prudent avoidance of all explanations, by quietly sneaking off with the market-penny we have made of the silly old fellow’s credulity.’

“ ‘Master Moralez,’ replied I to this desponding speech, ‘you give way to difficulties with more haste than good speed. Such pusillanimity does but little honor to Don Matthias de Cordel, and the other gallant blades with whom you were affiliated at Toledo. After serving a campaign under such experienced generals, it is not soldierly to shrink from the perils of the field. For my part, I am resolved to fight the battles of these heroes over again, or, in more vulgar phrase, to prove myself a chip