The Adventures of Gil Blas of Santillane

Chapter I. Scipio advises Gil Blas to marry, proposes the daughter of a rich and noted goldsmith for his wife: the steps which were taken in consequence of this advice.

THE ADVENTURES OF GIL BLAS of Santillane. BOOK IX. chapter i. Scipio advises Gil Blas to marry, proposes the daughter of a rich and noted goldsmith for his wife: the steps which were taken in consequence of this advice. One evening, after the company which had supped with me was gone, seeing myself alone with Scipio, I asked what he had done that day? “A master-piece, (he replied) I intend to have you married to the only daughter of a goldsmith of my acquaintance .” “The daughter of a goldsmith! (cried I, with an air of disdain) hast thou lost thy senses? How canst thou propose a wife from the city? One who has certainly merit, and is on a sure footing at court, ought to entertain more elevated views, methinks .” “How, Sir! (replied Scipio) sure you are not in earnest: consider that the male alone ennobles; and be not more delicate than a thousand noblemen, whose names I can mention. Do you know that the heiress in question is worth an hundred thousand ducats? Is not this a fine morsel of plate?” When I heard him talk of such a round sum,1 I became more tractable. “I yield, (said I to my secretary) the dowry determines me: When shall I touch it?” “Softly, Sir, (he replied) a little patience: I must first communicate the proposal to the father, and obtain his consent.” “Good! (said I, laughing heartily:) Are you still thereabouts? I find the marriage is far advanced.” “Farther than you imagine, (answered he) I want only an hour’s conversation with the goldsmith; and will answer for his consent. But before we proceed, let us come to a composition, if you please. Suppose I procure for you those hundred thousand ducats, how many will fall to my share?” “Twenty thousand,” (I replied.) “Heaven be praised, (said he) I limit the acknowledgment to ten thousand: for once, you are more generous than I. To-morrow I will set this negotiation on foot; and you may depend upon its success: otherwise, I am but an ass.”2 In effect, two days after, he said, “I have spoke to Signior 380 The Adventures of Gil Blas of Santillane Gabriel Salero the goldsmith; and have extolled your credit and your merit so much, that he listened to the proposal I made, of accepting you for a son-in-law: and you shall have his daughter with an hundred thousand ducats, provided you can make it plainly appear, that you are in favour with the minister.” “If that be the case, (answered I to Scipio) I shall be married very soon: but a-propos, Hast thou seen the girl? Is she handsome?” “Not so handsome as the dowry: (said he) between you and me, this rich heiress is not a very beautiful creature: but, luckily, that you don’t mind.” “No, faith, my child! (said I) we courtiers only marry for the sake of marrying; and look for beauty no where, but in the wives of our friends. If it happens to center in our own, we take so little notice of it, that it is but just in them to punish us for our neglect.” “This is not all, (resumed Scipio) Signior Gabriel invites you to supper to-night; and we have agreed, that you shall not talk of marriage. There will be several merchants of his acquaintance present at the entertainment, where you shall appear only as a simple guest: and to-morrow he will sup with you in the same manner. By this, you may see that he wants to study your temper, before he proceeds: so that you must be upon your guard before him.” “Zooks! (said I, with an air of confidence) let him examine me as narrowly as he pleases; I shall lose nothing by his scrutiny.” All this was punctually executed: I repaired to the house of the goldsmith, who received me as familiarly as if we had already visited one another several times. He was an honest citizen, polite* hasta porfiar, as the saying is. He introduced me to Signiora Eugenia his wife, and young Gabriela his daughter, to whom I paid abundance of compliments , without infringing the treaty. I said a great many nothings, in very specious words, according to the custom of courtiers. Gabriela (no disparagement to my secretary) appeared not at all disagreeable; whether on account of her being richly dressed, or that I looked upon her through the...