The Adventures of Gil Blas of Santillane

Chapter IV. The treatment of Gil Blas in the tower of Segovia, and the manner in which he learned the cause of his imprisonment.

386 The Adventures of Gil Blas of Santillane chapter iv. The treatment of Gil Blas in the tower of Segovia, and the manner in which he learned the cause of his imprisonment. They began with putting me into a dungeon, where I was left upon straw, like a malefactor worthy of death. Here I passed the night, not in deploring my condition , for, as yet, I had not perceived the whole of my misfortune, but in tasking my remembrance, to find out the cause of my imprisonment. I did not doubt that it was the work of Calderona; nevertheless, though I suspected that he had discovered the whole, I could not conceive how he had prevailed upon the Duke of Lerma to treat me so cruelly. Sometimes I imagined that I had been arrested without the knowledge of his excellency; and sometimes I thought that he himself was the cause of my misfortune , for some political reasons that often induce ministers to use their favourites in this manner. I was strongly agitated by these different conjectures, when the light of day, penetrating thro’ a little grate, presented to my view the horror of the place in which I was. I then grieved without moderation, and my eyes became two sources of tears, which the remembrance of my prosperity rendered inexhaustible. While I abandoned myself to my sorrow, a turnkey1 came into my dungeon, with a loaf and a pitcher of water, for the day’s allowance. He looked at me, and observing that my face was bathed in tears, gaoler as he was, felt an emotion of pity. “Signior prisoner, (said he) don’t despair. You must not be so sensible of the vicissitudes of life: you are young, and will see better days. Mean while, eat the King’s allowance with a good grace.” My comforter went out, when he had pronounced these words, to which I made no answer, but by groans and lamentations. I spent the whole day in cursing my fate, without thinking of doing honour to my provision, which, to me, in my present situation, seemed not so much a present of the King’s bounty, as the effect of his rage; since it served rather to prolong than assuage the pains of the unhappy. Night, in the mean time, arrived, and immediately a great noise of keys attracted my attention. The door of my dungeon opened, and a moment after, a man entering with a candle in his hand, approached me, saying, “Signior Gil Blas, behold one of your old friends. I am that Don Andrea de Tordesillas, who lived with you at Grenada, and was gentleman to the archbishop, while you was in favour with that prelate. You desired him, if you remember, to employ his credit in my behalf; and, by his interest, I was named for an employment in Mexico: but, instead of embarking for the Indies, I stopt in the city of Alicant, where I married the daughter of him who commanded the castle, and, by a train of adventures which I shall recount to you by and by, I am now become keeper of the tower of Segovia. I have express orders to keep you from the speech of every living soul, to make you lie upon straw, and live upon bread and water only. But I have too much humanity, not to pity your misfortunes: besides, you have done me service ; and my gratitude prevails over the orders which I have received. Far from being Volume Three: IX.4 387 the instrument of that cruelty which they would exercise upon you, I intend to soften the rigour of your fate. Get up and follow me.” Although Mr. Keeper well deserved my thanks, my understanding was so much disturbed, that I could not answer one word. I did not fail, however, to follow him, through a court, and up a narrow stair, to a small room, quite a-top of the tower. I was not a little surprized when I entered this chamber, to see two lights burning in brazen candlesticks, and two handsome covers2 on a table. “The victuals will be presently brought, (said Tordesillas) and we will sup here together. I have destined this retreat for your lodging, where you will live much more comfortably than in your dungeon. You will see, from your window, the flowery banks of the Erema,3 and the delightful valley which extends from the feet of the mountains that separate the...