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Volume Four: XI.12 507 these people, for I have long wished to see Mexico.” “Your curiosity will soon be satis- fied (said the steward to him) if Signior de Santillane has no objection to your desire. Tho’ I am very nice in the choice of those whom I send to the Indies on this employment , (for I choose them all) I will, without hesitation, insert you in my register, if your master desires it.” “You will oblige me in so doing, (said I to Don Raymond) pray give me that mark of your friendship. Scipio is a young man whom I love; besides, he has a great deal of understanding, and will behave in an irreproachable manner. In a word, I can answer for him as for myself.” “If that be the case, (resumed Caporis) let him repair immediately to Seville, the ships will sail for the Indies in a month. He shall have a letter from me at his departure, for a man who will give him all necessary instructions to enrich himself, without prejudicing the interests of his excellency, which must ever be looked upon as sacred.” Scipio, charmed with his employment, made haste to set out for Seville, with a thousand crowns which I gave him, to buy wine and oil in Andalusia, and put him in a condition to trade in the Indies on his own bottom.2 Nevertheless, glad as he was to make a voyage by which he hoped to profit so much, he could not leave me without shedding tears, and I could not behold his departure with indifference. chapter xii. Don Alphonso de Leyva comes to Madrid; the motive of his journey. Gil Blas is afflicted at the cause, but rejoices at the consequence of it. Scipio was scarce gone, when a page belonging to the minister brought to me a billet containing these words, “If Signior de Santillane will give himself the trouble to call at St. Gabriel’s head in Toledo street,1 he will there see one of his best friends.” “Who can this anonymous friend be? (said I to myself.) Why does he conceal his name? he wants, I suppose, to give me the pleasure of surprize.” I went out immediately to Toledo-street, and going to the appointed place, was not a little astonished to see Don Alphonso de Leyva. “Are you here, my lord!” (cried I.) “Yes, my dear Gil Blas, (answered he, hugging me close in his arms) it is Don Alphonso himself whom you see.” “What brings you to Madrid?” (said I.) “I will both surprise and afflict you, (he replied) in telling the cause of my journey. I am deprived of the government of Valencia , and the prime-minister has ordered me to court, to give an account of my conduct .” I remained a whole quarter of an hour mute and thunder-struck, then recovering myself, asked what he was accused of. “I know nothing of the matter, (answered he) but impute my disgrace to a visit which I made about three weeks ago to the Cardinal Duke of Lerma, who has been a month confined to his castle of Denia.” “O! truly, (said I, interrupting him) you have reason to attribute your misfortune to that indiscreet visit; you need seek for the cause of it no where else; and give me leave 508 The Adventures of Gil Blas of Santillane to say, you did not consult your usual prudence, when you went to visit the disgraced minister.” “The error is now committed, (said he) and I have taken my resolution with a good grace. I will retire with my family to the castle of Leyva, where I will spend the rest of my days in profound peace. All that gives me concern, is my being obliged to appear before a haughty minister, who may possibly treat me uncivilly. A sufficient mortification to a Spaniard! nevertheless it must be borne; but before I would make this submission, I was willing to speak with you.” “My lord, (said I) don’t present yourself before the minister, until I know what you are accused of; perhaps the evil is not without remedy. Be that as it will, you must allow me, if you please, to exert myself in your favour, as much as gratitude and friendship require.” So saying, I left him at the inn, assuring him that he should hear from me soon. As I had not...

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