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350 The Adventures of Gil Blas of Santillane chapter v. Gil Blas is overwhelmed with joy, honour and distress. The minister’s affection for me was soon perceived; for he affected to give marks of it in public, giving me the charge of his porto-folio, which he used to carry in his own hand to council. This novelty making people look upon me as a small favourite, excited the envy of several persons; and was the occasion of my receiving a great deal of court holy water. My two neighbours, the secretaries, were not the last in complimenting me upon my approaching greatness; and they invited me to sup at their widow’s, not so much in return for my treat, as with a view to engage me in their behalf for the future. I was welcomed every where; even the haughty Don Rodrigo changed his behaviour to me, and now called me nothing but Signior de Santillane; though, before that, he only favoured me with you, always omitting the term Signior. He loaded me with civilities, especially when he thought our patron might observe him: but I assure you he had no fool to deal with; I answered all his kindness with equal politeness; and the more so, the more I hated him in my heart:1 an old courtier could not have excelled me in this particular. I likewise accompanied my lord duke to court, whither he commonly went three times a day. In the morning, he entered his Majesty’s bed-chamber as soon as he was awake; and kneeling by the bed-side, discoursed of those things that were to be done in the day; having also dictated to his master what was to be said, he retired; and returned immediately after dinner, not to talk on state-affairs, but to converse on entertaining subjects, and regale the king with all the merry adventures which happened in Madrid, and of which he was always very early informed. Last of all, he visited him, for the third time, in the evening, when he gave such an account as he thought proper of what he had done through the day, and in a careless manner asked his majesty’s orders for to-morrow. While he was with the king, I remained in the anti-chamber, where I saw people of quality, devoted to the idol Favour, court my conversation, and think themselves happy, if I entered into discourse with them. How, after this, could I help thinking myself a man of consequence? There are a great many at court who have the same opinion of themselves, upon a much more slender foundation. One day, I had still more food for my vanity: the king, to whom the duke had spoke very advantageously of my stile, was very curious to see a specimen of it. Upon which, his excellency made me take up the Catalonian register, and carrying me into the presence , ordered me to read the first story which I had abridged. If I was at first disturbed by the presence of the prince, I was soon composed by that of the minister; and read my performance, which his Majesty heard with pleasure. He expressed his satisfaction, and even recommended me to the minister’s protection. This did not at all diminish the pride of my heart; and the conversation which I had a few days after with the Count de Lemos quite filled my head with the ideas of ambition. I went to this nobleman from his uncle, and finding him at the prince’s court, presented to him a letter of Volume Three: VIII.5 351 credentials; in which the duke told him, that he might open himself to me, as to one who was perfectly well acquainted with their design, and chosen by him as their common messenger. The Count having read this billet, conducted me into a room, and having locked the door, spoke in this manner: “Since you enjoy the confidence of the duke of Lerma, I don’t doubt that you deserve it; and I ought to make no difficulty in giving you mine also. You must know then, that matters go on swimmingly.2 The prince of Spain distinguishes me from all the noblemen who are personally attached to him, and who study to please him. I had this morning a private conversation with him, in which he seemed chagrined at seeing himself, through the king’s avarice...

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