The Adventures of Gil Blas of Santillane

BOOK X

THE ADVENTURES OF GIL BLAS of Santillane. BOOK X. chapter i. Gil Blas sets out for the Asturias; passes through Valladolid, where he visits his old master doctor Sangrado, and meets, by accident, with Signior Manuel Ordonnez, director of the hospital. While I was getting ready for my departure from Madrid, with Scipio, on my journey to the Asturias, Pope Paul the fifth named the Duke of Lerma to the cardinalship. The Pope being desirous of establishing the inquisition1 in the kingdom of Naples,2 invested the minister with the purple, that he might engage him to make King Philip consent to such a laudable design. All those who were well acquainted with this new member of the sacred college, thought, like me, that the church had made a fine acquisition. Scipio, who would rather have seen me in a brilliant post at court, than buried in solitude , advised me to present myself before the Cardinal: “Perhaps (said he) his eminence seeing you out of prison by the King’s order, will think it unnecessary to appear any longer irritated against you, and take you into his service again.” “Mr. Scipio, (answered I) you seem to have forgot that I obtained my liberty, on condition that I should quit the two Castiles immediately. Besides, do you think me already disgusted with my castle of Lirias? I have told you once, and now repeat it, that if the Duke of Lerma would restore me to his good graces, and even offer me the place of Don Rodrigo de Calderona ,3 I would refuse it. My resolution is taken. I will go in quest of my parents at Oviedo, and retire with them to Valencia.4 As for thee, my friend, if thou repentest of having joined thy fortune to mine, speak; I am ready to give thee one half of my money, and thou mayest stay at Madrid, and push thy fortune as far as it will go.” “How! (replied my secretary, nettled5 at my words) can you suspect me of having any repugnance to follow you to your retreat? my zeal and attachment are injured by your ...