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Volume Three: IX.2 381 twenty thousand ducats a year, or so. Upon which, these greedy hunters of honour and riches, cried, I was in the wrong; and that a man who (like me) was beloved by the prime-minister, ought not to restrict himself to such a trifle. The father-in-law lost not a syllable of what was said, and I thought I observed him very well satisfied when he retired. Scipio did not fail to visit him next morning, and ask if he was pleased with my behaviour : “I am charmed with it! (replied the citizen) the young man has won my heart. But, Signior Scipio, (added he) I conjure you, by our old acquaintance, to speak sincerely . We have all our different foibles, as you know: tell me that of Signior de Santillane : Is he a gamester? Is he a rake? What is his vicious inclination? Pray don’t conceal it.” “You affront me, Signior Gabriel, by asking such a question, (replied the mediator ) I am not so much in my master’s interests as in yours. If he had any bad quality capable of making your daughter unhappy, do you think I would have proposed him to you for a son-in-law? No faith! I am too much your humble servant. But between you and me, I know no other fault in him, but that of having no fault. He is too modest for a young man.” “So much the better, (cried the goldsmith) I am glad of it. Go, friend, assure him that he shall have my daughter, whom I would bestow upon him, even if he was not beloved by the minister.” My secretary had no sooner informed me of this conversation, than I hastened to Salero’s house, to thank him for his condescension. He had already declared his pleasure to his wife and daughter, who gave me to understand by their behaviour towards me, that they submitted to his will without reluctance. I carried my father-in-law, and presented him to the duke of Lerma, to whom I had imparted the affair the preceding evening. His excellency received him very courteously, and assured him, that he was very glad he had chosen for his son-in-law a man for whom he had so much regard, and whom he intended to advance. He then enlarged upon my good qualities, and, in short, spoke so well of me, that honest Gabriel thought he had met in my worship one of the best matches in Spain. He was so overjoyed, that the tear stood in his eye: he clasped me in his arms at parting, and said, “My son, I am so impatient to see you Gabriela ’s husband, that you shall be married in eight days at farthest.” chapter ii. Gil Blas, by accident, remembers Don Alphonso de Leyva, and does him a piece of service, out of vanity. The order of my history requires, that I should leave my marriage for a moment, to recount the service which I did to Don Alphonso my old master, whom I had intirely forgotten till now, that I remembered him on this occasion. The government 382 The Adventures of Gil Blas of Santillane of the city of Valencia1 became vacant; and when I heard this piece of news, I thought of Don Alphonso de Leyva. I reflected, that this employment would suit him admirably well; and not so much through friendship as ostentation, resolved to ask it for him; representing to myself, that if I should obtain the place, it would do me infinite honour. Addressing myself therefore to the duke of Lerma, I told him that I had been steward to Don Caesar de Leyva and his son; and that having all the reason in the world to love them, I took the liberty to beg the government of Valencia for either the one or other. The minister answered, “With all my heart, Gil Blas: I love to see thee grateful and generous. Besides, I esteem the family thou speakest of; the Leyvas have been always good servants to the king, and well deserve that place. Thou mayst dispose of it at thy own pleasure: I give it thee for a nuptial present.” Ravished with my success, I went without loss of time, and desired Calderona to make out letters patent for Don Alphonso. There I found a great number of people attending in respectful silence until...

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