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Volume One: I.14 45 wine, which they brought for me; and during this repast, which was very well suited to my dress, I wanted to enter into conversation with my landlady.—I begg’d her to tell me if she knew the marquis of Guardia; if his castle was far from the borough; and, in particular, if she had heard what was become of the marchioness his lady. “You ask a great many questions,” (replied she, with a scornful look:) she told me however, (tho’ with a very bad grace) that the castle of Don Ambrosio was but a short league from Ponte de Mula. When I had done eating and drinking (it being by this time pretty late) I express’d a desire of going to rest, and bad them shew me into a bed-chamber. “A bed-chamber for you! (said the landlady, darting at me a look full of haughtiness and contempt) I have no bed-chambers for people who sup on a morsel of cheese.—All my beds are bespoke : —I expect gentlemen of importance to lodge here to-night;—so that all I can do for you is to quarter you in the barn; and it won’t (I suppose) be the first time you have slept upon straw.” She did not know how true she spoke; but I made no reply, and very wisely condescended to sneak into the straw, where in a very short time I slept like one who had suffered much fatigue. chapter xiv. Of his reception at Burgos by Donna Mencia. Idid not lie a-bed like a sluggard1 next morning, but went to reckon with my landlady, who seemed less proud and snappish than she had been the night before: a change that I ascribed to the presence of three honest soldiers belonging to the holy brotherhood , who conversed with her in a very familiar manner.—They had lodged all night at the inn, and it was, doubtless, for these gentlemen of importance, that all the beds had been bespoke. Inquiring in the borough the way to the castle whither I wanted to go, I address’d myself by accident to a man of the character of my landlord at Pennaflor: not contented with answering the question I asked, he let me know that Don Ambrosio was dead three weeks ago, and that the marchioness his lady had retired into a convent at Burgos, which he named.—I repaired immediately to that city, instead of following the road to the castle, as I formerly intended, and flying directly to the convent where she was, begg’d the favour of the portress to tell her that a young man, just released from the gaol of Astorga, desired to speak with her. The nun went immediately to do what I desired, and returning, introduced me into a parlour, where I had not been long when I saw the widow of Don Ambrosio appear at the grate in deep mourning. “You are welcome (said the lady to me:) four days ago I wrote to a person at Astorga, desiring him to go to you from me, and tell you that I should be glad to see you, as soon as you should be released; and I did not doubt of your being enlarged in a very 46 The Adventures of Gil Blas of Santillane little time, what I said to the corregidor in your behalf having been sufficient for that purpose.—In answer to this he wrote, that you had recovered your liberty, but nobody knew whither you was gone; so that I was afraid I should never see you again, and consequently be deprived of the pleasure of manifesting my gratitude.—Don’t be ashamed, (added she, observing my confusion on account of appearing before her in such a miserable dress) let not your present condition give you the least uneasiness. After the important service you have done me, I should be the most ungrateful of all women, if I neglected to do something for you: I intend to extricate you out of the wretched situation in which you are: it is my duty, and I am able to perform it.—The considerable wealth I am now mistress of, impowering me to acquit myself towards you, without incommoding myself. “You know (continued she) my adventures to the day on which we were both imprisoned ; and I will tell you what has happen’d to me since.—When the...

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