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314 The Adventures of Gil Blas of Santillane went home, I was told that the Marquis had gone out: and it was decreed that I should see him no more; as may be perceived in reading the following chapter. chapter xi. Gil Blas receives a piece of news, which is like a thunderbolt to him. Irepaired to my eating-house, where meeting two men of a very agreeable conversation , I dined and sat at table with them, till it was time to go to the play. Then we parted: they went about their own affairs, and I took the road to the theatre. I must observe by the bye, that I had all the reason in the world to be in good humour; mirth had reigned in my conversation with these two gentlemen; my fortune had a most smiling face; and notwithstanding my spirits sunk, without my knowing the reason, and without my being able to keep them up. It was, doubtless, a presage of the misfortune with which I was threatened. As I entered the green-room,1 Melchior Zapata came to me, and telling me softly to follow him, carried me into a private place, and addressed me in this manner, “Signior cavalier, I think it my duty to give you a very important piece of intelligence. You know that the Marquis de Marialva had, at first, a passion for Narcissa, my wife; and already appointed a day to come and take a slice of my rib,2 when the artful Estella found means to break the bargain, and allure the Portugueze nobleman to her own charms. You may well believe, that an actress does not lose such a good prey without vexation. My spouse has this affair at heart, and is capable of undertaking any thing to be revenged: she has now a fair occasion. Yesterday, if you remember, all our servants crowded to see you: when the under candle-snuffer told some of the company, that he knew you very well, and that you was nothing less than Estella’s brother. “This report (added Melchior) reached the ears of Narcissa, who did not fail to interrogate the author, and he has confirmed his assertion, by telling her, that he knew you as Arsenia’s valet, at the same time that Estella, under the name of Laura, served that actress at Madrid. My wife, charmed with this discovery, will impart it to the Marquis de Marialva, who is to be at the play this evening. Take your measures accordingly ; if you are not actually Estella’s brother, I advise you, as a friend, and on account of our old acquaintance, to provide for your safety. Narcissa, who demands but one victim, has allowed me to give you this notice, that you may prevent any sinister accident by immediate flight.” It would have been superfluous in him to say more of the matter. I thanked the stageplayer for his information, and he easily perceived, by my terrified look, that I was not the man to give the candle-snuffer the lye. I did not feel the least inclination to depend upon my effrontery: I was not even tempted to bid Laura farewel, lest she should have insisted upon my facing it out. I could very well conceive, that she was an actress of Volume Three: VII.11 315 such skill, as to be able to extricate herself out of the dilemma; but I saw nothing except an infallible chastisement for me, and I was not so much in love as to brave it. My sole study being, therefore, to escape with my houshold gods,3 I mean my baggage, I disappeared from the playhouse in a twinkling,4 and, with the utmost dispatch, caused my portmanteau to be transported to the house of a carrier, who was to set out for Toledo, at three o’clock next morning. I could have wished to be with the Count de Polan, whose house seemed my only asylum: but I was not yet there, and I could not, without the utmost uneasiness, think on the time I had to stay in a city, where I was afraid they would search for me, even in the night. I did not, for all that, omit going to supper, at my eating-house, although I was as much disturbed as a debtor, who knows that there are bailiffs at his heels. What I ate that evening, did not, I believe, produce...

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