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54 The Adventures of Gil Blas of Santillane my imagination, with all their charms; and I anticipated the diversions that Don Raphael prepared for me at his house in the country. In the midst of these pleasing images , however, sleep did not fail to shed his poppies over me;4 so that, finding myself drousy, I undressed, and went to bed. Next morning, when I awaked, I perceived that it was already late, and was a good deal surprized, that my valet did not appear in consequence of the order I had given him over night. “Ambrose, (said I to myself,) my faithful Ambrose, is either at church, or very lazy to-day.” But I soon lost that opinion of him, and conceived one much worse; for getting up, and missing my portmanteau, I suspected him of having stole it in the night. For further information, I opened the chamber-door, and called the hypocrite several times; at last, an old man hearing me, came and said, “What would you please to have, Signior? all your people departed from my house long before day.” “How! (cried I) your house! am I not at present in the house of Don Raphael?” “I don’t know who that gentleman is, (said he) but you are in furnished lodgings, and I am the landlord: last night, an hour before your arrival, the lady who supped along with you came hither, and hired this apartment for a great lord, who, she said, travelled incognito ; and even paid me before-hand.” I was no longer in the dark; I guessed the characters of Camilla and Don Raphael, and concluded that my servant being perfectly well acquainted with my affairs, had sold me to these sharpers. Instead of ascribing this unlucky adventure to myself; and considering that it would not have happened to me, had I not been so indiscreet as to unbosom myself unnecessarily to Majuelo; I imputed all to innocent fortune, and cursed my fate a thousand times. The owner of the house, to whom I recounted the adventure , which perhaps, he knew as well as I did, seemed affected with my sorrow, condoled me, and protested that he was very much mortified to find that such a scene had passed in his house: but I believe, notwithstanding all his professions, he was as much concerned in the trick as my landlord at Burgos, to whom, however, I have always attributed the honour of the invention. chapter xvii. How Gil Blas bestowed himself after the adventure of the ready-furnished lodging. Having heartily bewailed my misfortune, I considered, that instead of giving way to sorrow, I ought to animate myself against mischance; and summoning all my courage to my assistance, said to myself, while I put on my cloaths, by way of consolation , “I am happy in that the rogues have not also carried off my apparel, and some ducats which I have still in my purse:” I gave them credit for this piece of civility, and sold my boots, which they had been generous enough to leave likewise, to my land- Volume One: I.17 55 lord, for one third of the money they had cost me. Then taking my leave of the readyfurnished lodging; without having occasion, thank God! for any body to carry my baggage ; the first thing I did, was to go and see whether or not my mules were at the inn, where I alighted the preceding night; though I was of opinion that Ambrose had not left them there; and I wish to God, my opinion of him had been always as just! for they told me, he had taken care to fetch them away that very evening: wherefore, laying my account with having seen the last of them, as well as of my portmanteau, I stroled about the streets in a melancholy manner, musing on what should be my next course. I was tempted to return to Burgos, and have recourse to Donna Mencia once more; but when I reflected, that in so doing I should abuse the generosity of the lady, and, at the same time, be looked upon as a booby, I relinquished that thought, swearing I should, for the future, be upon my guard against women; and I believe, at that time, I should have mistrusted the chaste Susanna. I cast my eyes, from time to time, upon my ring, and when I considered that it was a present from Camilla, sighed...

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