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28 The Adventures of Gil Blas of Santillane chapter vii. Of the behaviour of Gil Blas, when he could do no better. During the first days of my captivity I was like to sink under the sorrow that oppress’d me, and might have been said to die by inches; but at last my good genius inspired me with the resolution to dissemble: I affected to appear less sad than usual; I began to laugh and sing, tho’, God knows, with an aching heart. In a word, I counterfeited so well, that Leonarda and Domingo were deceived, and believed that the bird was at last reconciled to his cage.—The robbers were of the same opinion; for I assumed a gay air when I fill’d wine for them, and mingled in their conversation, whenever I found an opportunity of acting the buffoon.1 This freedom, far from displeasing , afforded them diversion. “Gil Blas, (said the captain to me one evening, while I entertain’d them in this manner) thou hast done well, my lad, to banish thy melancholy : I am charmed with thy wit and humour: I find people are not known all at once; for I did not think thou hadst been so sprightly and good-natured.” The rest joined also in my praise, and appeared so well satisfied with me, that taking the advantage of this good disposition, “Gentlemen, (said I) allow me to tell my mind: since my abode in this place I find myself quite another sort of a person than heretofore . You have divested me of the prejudices of education, and I insensibly imbibe your disposition: I have a taste for your profession, and a longing desire of being honoured with the name of your companion, and of sharing the dangers of your expeditions.” All the company approved of my discourse, and commended my forwardness; so that it was unanimously resolved to let me serve a little longer, in order to approve myself worthy, then carry me out in their excursions; after which I should obtain the honourable place I demanded.2 Well, then I was obliged to persist in my dissimulation, and exercise the post of cupbearer still; a circumstance that mortified me extremely: for my design in aspiring to the honour of becoming a thief, was only to have the liberty of taking the air with the rest, in hopes that one day I should be able to escape from them, in the course of their expeditions. This hope alone supported my life; but nevertheless appeared so distant, that I tried more than once to baffle the vigilance of Domingo; tho’ it was never in my power, he being always so much upon his guard, that I would have defied an hundred Orpheuses to charm such a Cerberus.3 ’Tis true, indeed, I did not do all that I could have to beguile him, lest I should have waken’d his suspicion; for he had a hawk’s eye over me, and I was obliged to act with the utmost circumspection, that I might not betray myself. I therefore resigned myself to my fate, until the time should be expired that was prescribed by the robbers for receiving me into their gang; and this event I expected as impatiently as if I had been to be inrolled in a list of commissioners. Heaven be praised! in six months that time arrived; when signior Rolando, addressing himself to his company, said, “Gentlemen, we must keep our words with Gil Blas: I have no bad opinion of that young fellow, and I hope we shall make something of him: Volume One: I.8 29 it is therefore my opinion, that we carry him along with us to-morrow to gather laurels on the highway, and usher him into the path of glory.” The robbers agreed to their captain’s proposal; and to shew that they already looked upon me as one of their companions , from that moment dispensed with my service, and re-established dame Leonarda in the office she had lost on my account. They made me throw away my habit, that consisted of a sorry threadbare short cassock, and dress’d me in the spoils of a gentleman whom they had lately robb’d; after which I prepared for my first campaign. chapter viii. Gil Blas accompanies the thieves, and performs an exploit on the highway. It was the month of September, when, towards the close of...

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