The Adventures of Gil Blas of Santillane

BOOK VIII

THE ADVENTURES OF GIL BLAS of Santillane. BOOK VIII. chapter i. Gil Blas contracts a good acquaintance, and obtains a post that consoles him for Count Galiano’s ingratitude. The history of Don Valerio de Luna. My not having heard of Nunnez all this time, surprized me so much, that I concluded he must be in the country: and as soon as I could walk, went to his lodgings , where I understood that he had actually gone to Andalousia, three weeks before, with the Duke de Medina Sidonia. One morning, at waking, Don Melchior de la Ronda came into my head; and remembering that I had promised to him, while I was at Grenada, to visit his nephew, if ever I should return to Madrid, I resolved to keep my promise that very day. Having got a direction to the house of Don Balthazar de Zuniga, I repaired thither, and asked for Signior Joseph Navarro, who soon appeared. When I saluted him, he received me politely, but coldly, although I had signified my name. I did not know how to reconcile this frozen reception with the character I had heard of this clerk of the kitchen; and was going away, with a resolution to save myself the trouble of a second visit, when, all of a sudden, assuming an open, smiling air, he cried, with a good deal of emotion, “Ah, Signior Gil Blas de Santillane, pray pardon the reception I have given you. My memory had betrayed my inclination: I had forgot your name, and little thought that you was the cavalier, of whom mention is made, in a letter which I received from Grenada, about four months ago. “How rejoiced am I to see you! (added he, throwing his arms about my neck, with transport) my uncle Melchior, whom I love and honour as a father, conjures me, if perchance I should have the honour of seeing you, to treat you in the same manner as if you was his son, and to employ, if there should be occasion, my own credit, and that of my friends, in your behalf. He has praised the qualities of your head and heart, in such terms as would have interested me in your favour, even if I had not been engaged thereto, by his recommendation. I beg, therefore, that you will look upon me, as a man ...