having it in my power to acquit thee as a judge, I have wrote to "court in thy behalf, folicited thy "pardon, and obtained it. Thou "mayeft go, then, whither thou shalt "pleafe, But," added he, "take my "advice; reflect feriously on thy ill fpent life, and from henceforth quit "the profeffion of robbery.” great men: I shall be second captaia in their company; and will, for thy better reception, affure them, that I have feen thee ten times engaged by my fide; I will extol thy valour to the kies, and fay more in thy praife than a general fays of an officer whom he wants to promote. I will take care not to mention a word of the 'trick thou hatt played, because it would make them fufpicious of thee: the adventure thall therefore be con'cealed.—Well,' added he, art thou ready to follow my fortune? I wait for thy reply.' 'I was deeply affected with these 'words, and took the road to Ma'drid, refolved to turn over a new leaf, and live honeftly in that city. 'I found my parents were dead, and 'their effects in the hands of an 'old relation, who gave me fuch a 'faithful account of them as guar'dians commonly do; all that I have been able to touch, being no more than three thousand ducats, which, in all probability, is not above one fourth of what is my due. But what 'courfe could I take? I should gain nothing by going to law: therefore, to avoid idlenes, I have purchafed 'the place of an alguazil. My brethren, out of decency, would have oppofed my admiffion, had they been acquainted with my story, which luckily they were ignorant of, or pre* tended to be so, which is the fame thing; for in that honourable corps it is the bufinefs of every individual to conceal his own exploits: thank "Heaven! not one of us can juftly re*proach his fellow; fo that it may be faid of the fraternity," The devil may take the best." Nevertheless, my friend," added Rolando, I will now disclose the bottom of my foul: 'the profeffion which I have embraced, is not at all to my liking; it requires a behaviour too delicate and myfterious for me; and whatever tricks we practise, muft be very crafty and fecret. O how I regret my old pro* feffion! I grant, there is more fafety in this new employment; but there 'was more pleasure in the other; and liberty is my delight. In all likelihood I shall get rid of my office, and fet out one morning for the ⚫ mountains at the fource of the river 'Tagus, where I know there is a retreat inhabited by a numerous company, chiefly of Catalonians; (that is making their elogium in one word :) if thou wilt accompany me, we will go and increase the number of these So many men, fo many minds,' faid I to Rolando; you are born for hardy deeds, and I for a quiet and eafy life. Oh! I understand you," cried he, interrupting me; the lady whom love perfuaded you to rescue, ftill keeps poffeffion of your heart; and doubtless you lead a happy life with her in Madrid: confefs, Mr. Gil Blas, that you have taken lodgings for her, and spend together the piftoles which you carried off from the fubterranean retreat.' I told him that he was mistaken, and that, in order to undeceive him, I would, while we fhould be at dinner, relate the ftory of the lady; this I did accordingly, and informed him of all that had happened to me fince I quitted the company. Towards the end of our repaft, he refumed the fubject of the Catalonians, acknowledged that he was determined to join them, and made a new attempt to engage me in the fame refolution; but finding that I was not to be perfuaded, he darted a fierce look at me, faying, in a very ferious tone, Since thou haft fuch a grovelling foul, as to prefer thy fervile condition to the honour of affociating with men of courage, I abandon thee to the bafenefs of thy inclinations; but liften to the words I am about to pronounce, and let them remain engraven on thy memory: forget that thou haft met me to-day, and never talk of me from henceforth; for if ever I fhall hear that thou so much as nameit me in converfation-thou knowett me-I will fay no more." Having thus expreffed himself, he called to pay, difcharged the bill, and we got up in order to part. S we went out of the tavern, and were taking leave of one another, my mafter happening to pafs, faw me; and, I perceived, looked hard at the captain, which made me believe that he was furprized to find me acquainted with fuch a figure. Certain it is, that the appearance of Rolando could not prepoffefs people in his favour: for he thou hadst been fo cunning. Go, child, I have no farther occafion for 'thee.' I went inftantly to inform Melendez of this piece of bad news, who told me, for my confolation, that he intended to introduce me into a better family; and accordingly, a few days after, Gil Blas, my friend,' faid he, you don't know what good news I have to tell you; you are going to enjoy the most agreeable poft you could defire; for I will fettle you with Don Matthias de Silva, a man of the first quality, and one of those young lords who go under the deno was a very tall fellow, with a long vi-mination of beaus: he does me the fage and hook-nofe; and, though not ugly, had very much the air of a rank fharper. I was not deceived in my conjectures; for in the evening, I found Don Bernard ftill harping on the captain's figure, and extremely well difpofed to believe all the fine things I could have faid of him, had not my mouth been fhut. Gil Blas,' faid he, who is that tall fpunger in whose company I faw thee to-day?' I replied, He is an alguazil;' and thought he would reft fatisfied with that anfwer: but he asked a great many other queftions; and as I appeared embarraffed, because I remembered the threat of Rolando, he broke off the converfation abruptly, and went to bed. Next morning, when I had done my duty as ufual, instead of fix rials, he gave me as many ducats, faying, Hold, my friend; here is what I give thee for having ferved me hitherto; go, and feek for another place, for I cannot put up with a fervant who has fuch honourable 'acquaintances.' It came in my head to pretend, in my own juftification, that my acquaintance with the alguazil was occafioned by my having preferib. ed for him, while I practifed phyfick at Valladolid. Very well, replied my mafter; that's an ingenious evafion; but thou shouldst have thought of it last night, and not have been fo much difconcerted.'- Sir,' added I, I thought it would be imprudent for me to tell it; and that was the cause of confufion.' my -O furely,' replied he, clapping my fhoulder very gently, you have been very prudent; I did not think honour to buy cloth of me; on trust, indeed; but there is nothing to be loft by people of his rank; for they commonly marry rich heireffes, who pay their debts; and even if that 'fhould not happen, a tradefman, who understands his bufinefs, fells always fo dear, that he can afford to lofe three-fourths of his bargain. The fteward of Don Matthias is my 'particular friend: let us go to him now; he will himself present you to his mafter; and you may depend upon it, he will, for my fake, treat you with uncommon regard.', In our way to the house of Don Matthias, the merchant faid, 'It will not be amifs, I believe, to give you fome information of the character of this fteward, whofe name is Gregorio Rodriguez. Between you and me, he is a man of no family, who finding himself born for business, followed the bent of his genius, and enriched himself with the pillage of two families which he served in quality of steward. I affure you, he has a great deal of vanity, and loves to fee the rest of the fervants cringe to him. They muft addrefs themfelves firft to him, when they have the leaft favour to afk of their mafter; for fhould it happen, that they obtain it without his intereft, he has always expedients in readiness by which it will either be revoked, or rendered 'ineffectual. Remember this, Gil • Blas, in the regulation of your conduct: pay your court to Signior Rodriguez, preferable to your matter himself, and do all that lies in your power to please him; his friendship will beftead you much; he will pay 'your * your wages punctually; and if you are dextrous enough to acquire his confidence, he may give you fome ⚫ pretty bone to pick, out of the num. ber he has in his poffeffion. Don • Matthias is a young lord, who minds nothing but his pleasure, and would not for the world inform himself of the ftate of his own affairs. What a 'glorious family is that for a steward !' Arriving at the houfe, we defired to fpeak with Signior Rodriguez, who, we were told, was in his own apartment: there we found him with a kind of farmer, who had a blue canvas bag of money in his hand. The fteward, who looked more pale and yellow than a girl oppreffed with her maidenhead, came towards Melendez with open arms he, on the other hand, met him in the fame manner, and they embraced one another with demonftrations of friendship, in which there was, at least, as much art as nature. Then my affair coming on the carpet, Rodriguez examined me from head to foot, and told me, in a very polite manner, that I was just fuch an one as Don Matthias wanted, and that he would with pleasure prefent me to that lord. Upon which, Melendez letting him know how much he was interested in my behalf, and begging that he would favour me with his protection, committed me to his care; and, after abundance of compliments, withdrew. He was no fooner gone, than Rodriguez faid to me, I prefent, did the duty of his valet de chambre. My lord,' faid the fteward to him, here is a young man, whom I take the liberty to prefent as one fit to fill the place of the valet whom you difmiffed two days ago. Melendez, your draper, recommends him, affuring me, that he is a lad of merit ; and I hope your lordship will be very well fatisfied with his behaviour.'Enough,' anfwered the young lord; fince you introduce him to me, I receive him into my fervice with implicit faith, and make him my valet de chambre: fo that affair is fettled. But, Rodriguez,' added he, let us talk of fomething elfe: you are come very opportunely; for I was just going to fend for you. I have bad news to tell you, my dear Rodriguez ! you must know, I had ill luck at play lalt night. Together with an hundred piftoles which I had about me, I have loft two hundred more on my parole; and you know of what importance it is for people of quality to difcharge that fort of debts: it is, indeed, the only kind which we are obliged, in point of honour, to pay; and we do not give ourselves much ⚫ concern about the reft; you must, therefore, find two hundred piftoles immediately, and fend them to the Countess of Pedrofa. Sir,' faid the steward, it is fooner faid than 'done. Where fhall I get that fum to please you? I have not been able to finger one farthing of your tenants, let me threaten as hard as I can; and yet I am obliged to maintain your family in an honourable way, though I fweat blood and water in procuring wherewithal to defray the expence. True, indeed, I have hitherto, thank Heaven! made fhift; but I am now reduced to fuch extremity, that I know not what faint in heaven to will conduct you to my mafter as foon as I can dispatch this honest country'man.' Then going to the peafant, and taking hold of the bag, Talego,' faid he, let us fee if there be just five hundred piftoles here.' Having counted the money, and found it right, he gave the farmer a difcharge for the fum, and sent him about his business; and, putting the piftoles into the bag again, addreffed himself to me, fay-invoke. All thefe harangues are ing, This is the right time for us to go to the levee of my mafter, who 'commonly rifes about noon. It is near the hour, and I suppose he is ufelefs,' cried Don Matthias, interrupting him; and you worry me with your reflections. Don't you imagine, Rodriguez, that I will change my difpolition, and divert myfelf with looking into my own affairs. An agreeable amufement, truly, for a man of pleafure like me ! Have a little patience,' replied the fteward; " at the rate you go on, I forefee that you will be rid of that care in a very fhort time. You fatigue me," faid Ma the the young lord, in a paffion; you murder me! give me leave to ruin myfelf imperceptibly: I tell you, I ⚫ want two hundred piftoles, and I must have them.'-' I'll go, then,' faid Rodriguez, and have recourse to the little old man, who has already lent you money at high intereft.'- You may, if you pleafe, have recourfe to the devil, anfwered Don Matthias; provided I have the two hundred piftoles, I fhall give myfelf no farther trouble about the matter.' Jutt as he had pronounced thefe words in a hafty and difcontented manner, the fteward went away, and a young man of quality, called Don Antonio Centelles, came in. What is the matter?' faid this laft to my mafter; thou art cloudy, my friend: I perceive indignation in thy countenance. What can have put you into this bad humour? I'll lay a wager it is the man whom I met going out. Yes,' replied Don Matthias, it was my iteward: every ⚫ time he comes to Ipeak with me, I Juffer for one quarter of an hour, by his taking about my affairs, and faying, that I have quite exhausted my finances. Impertinent beaft he cannot fay that he lofes by me, I'm fure.' Why, child,' faid Don Antonio, I am in the fame condition; having a factor not a whit more reasonable than thy steward. When the rogue, in obedience to my repeated orders, brings money for me, one would think he gave it out of his own pocket. He overwhelms me with refections." Sir," fays he, great compofure; because thy fteward will fhew me thy accounts, and my factor will entertain thee with mine: I shall hear of nothing but thy profufion, and thou wilt fee nothing but mine. This will be admirable • sport!' A thoufand bright strokes fucceeded this fally, and mightily diverted the young lords, who converfed together with a great deal of vivacity; until their difcourfe was interrupted by Gre gorio Rodriguez, who returned with a little old man almoft quite bald. Don Antonio would have gone away, saying, Adieu, Don Matthias, I fhall fee you by and by: at prefent you " have, doubtlefs, fome ferious affair to difcuts with thefe gentlemen.'O, not at all,' replied my mafter; ftay, it is no fecret. That difcreet old perfon whom you fee, is an ho < nett inan, who lends me money at 'the rate of twenty per cent.' How ! twenty per cent. cried Centelles, with an air of aftonishment; ⚫egad, I congratulate thee upon being in fuch good hands! I am not fo kindly dealt with, and may fay that I purchase filver at the price of gold: I commonly borrow at the rate of forty in the hundred.' Heavens! what extortion! exclaimed the old ufurer; do thefe knaves ever think of an"other world? I am not at all furprized at the hue and cry railed againft people who lend upon intereft. It is the exorbitant profit which fome exact, that ruins our honour and reputation: if all my brethren were like me, we fhould not be to much reviled; for my fole view in lending, is to befriend my fellow-creatures. Ah! if times were as they have been, I would offer you my purse without intereft; and truly, in fpite of the prefent fcarcity, I can fearce prevail upon myself to take twenty per cent. But, for my part, I believe money has retired again within the bowels of the earth: there is no fuch thing to be had; for which reafon, I am 'obliged to retrench my henevolence. 6 you are undone; your rents are feized." Upon which, I am obliged to cut him fhort, in order to put an end to his ridiculous difcourfe. The mif• fortune is,' faid Don Matthias, we cannot live without thefe people, who are neceffary evils. They are fo,' replied Centelles; but hark'e,' added he, laughing with all his might, there is a comical thought come into my head: a moft incomparable conception! by which we may convert those • fcenes which we have with them into mirth, and divert ourselves with that which now gives us fo much uneafinefs. Let me demand of thy fteward all the money thou fhalt have occafion for, while thou doft the fame by my manager; then they may moralize as they please, we can hear them with How much do you want?" added he, addreffing himself to my mafter. I must have two hundred piftoles," replied Don Matthias. Here are four hundred in a bag,' faid the ufurer; you fhall have one half.' So faying, he pulled from under his cloak, a blue baga 2005 re fo bag, which feemed to be the very fame which the peafant Talego had left with the five hundred pittoles, in the hands of Rodriguez. I foon knew what to think of the matter; and found that Melen lez had not praised the feward's understanding without caufe. The old man having emptied the bag on the table, began to count the money; my mafter was inflamed with defire of pot feffion at the fight; and, ftruck with the totality of the fum, faid to the ufurer, Signior Difcomulgado, I have • made a very wife reflection, truly! What a fool I am to borrow no ⚫ more than what is abfolutely neceffary to difengage my parole, without confidering that I have not a penny in my purfe! I fhall be obliged to have recourfe to you to-morrow; therefore, to fpare you the trouble of coming back, I think it will not be amifs to pocket the whole four * hundred.'- My lord,' faid the ufurer, a part of this money was defigned for a good licentiate, who has ⚫ fome fat benefices, which he chari tably employs in perfuading young giris to retire from the world, and in furnishing their retreats. But fince you have occafion for the whole fum, it is at your fervice: all that I defire, is fufficient fecurity.'-' Oh' as for fecurity, faid Rodriguez, interrupt ing him, and taking a paper out of his pocket, you fhall be fatisfied; here is an order to be figned by Don Matthias, for fi e hundred piftoles, upon one of his tenants, called Talego, a rich farmer of Mondejan.'Very well,' replied the ufurer, ' I never make many words. Upon which, the fteward prefented a pen to his master; who, without reading the order, fet his name to the bottom, whiftling all the while. This affair being ended, the old man took his leave of my patron, who ran and embraced him, faying, Till our • next meeting, Signior Ufurer, I am wholly yours: I don't know why people of your profeffion are branded with the name of rogues; for my own part, I think you are very neceffary and ferviceable to fociety; you are the confolation of a thoufand heirs, and the refource of all thofe lords whofe expence exceeds their income.' Thou art in the right,' cried Centelles ; ' ufurers are very honest people, whom we never can honour enough. I will, in my turn, embrace this gentleman, on account of his twenty per cent. With thefe words, he approached, and hugged the old man; and thefe two beaus, for their diver fion, began to push him backward and forward to one another, like a ball between two tennis-players. After he had been toffed to and fro a good while, they let him go with the foward, who was more deferving than he of their embraces, and of fomething else alfo. Rodriguez and his urdeiftrapper be ing gone, Don Matthias fent the half of his pistoles to the Countess of Pedrofa, by the footman who was prefent, and fecured the rest in a long embroided filk purfe, which he commonly wore in his pocket. Very well fatisfied with feeing himself in cash, he faid to Don Antonio, with a gay air, What shall we do to-day? Let us confult about it.'- You speak like a fenfible man,' replied Centelles : with all my heart, let us deliberate." While they were confidering how to spend the day, two other lords arrived: there were Don Alexo Segiar, and Don Fernando de Gamboa, both of them about the age of my master, that is, between eight and twenty and thirty. These four cavaliers, at meeting, hugged one another fo heartily, that one would have thought they had not met for ten years before; then Don Fernando, who was a jovial companion, addreffing himself to Don Matthias and Don Antonio, faid, Gentlemen, where do you intend to dine to-day? If you are not engaged, I'll conduct 'you to a tavern, where you shall drink nectar. I fupped there laft 'night, and left it only this morning, between five and fix o'clock.' Would to Heaven,' cried my master, that I had done the fame! in which cafe, I fhould not have loft my mo'ney.' 'As for me,' faid Centelles, I treat ed myself last night with a new diverfion; for I love variety in my pleasures, which alone makes life agreeable. A friend of mine carried me to the house of a farmer of the revenue, a gentleman who does his own bufinefs, together with that of the state. There I faw magnificence and taste, the entertainment being elegant enough, But I was mightily • diverted |