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136 The Adventures of Gil Blas of Santillane chapter viii. By what accident Gil Blas was obliged to seek a new place. Such was the story that Don Pompeio recounted, and which the valet of Don Alexo and I overheard, although they had taken the precaution of sending us away before it was begun: but instead of retiring, we stopt at the door which we had left half open, and from thence lost not a word of what was said. After this, the noblemen set in to drinking, but their debauch did not last till day; because Don Pompeio, who was to attend the prime minister in the morning, was very desirous of a little rest. Accordingly, the marquis of Zeneta and my master embracing that cavalier, bid him adieu, and left him with his kinsman. We went to bed for this time, before morn, and Don Matthias, when he waked, invested me with a new employment. “Gil Blas, (said he) take paper and ink, and write two or three letters which I will dictate; henceforth thou art my secretary.” Good, (said I to myself ) another addition to my functions: as a lacquey, I follow my master every where; as a valet de chambre, help him to dress; and write under him as his secretary: heaven be praised! I act, like Hecate, in a threefold capacity.1 “Thou dost not know, (added he,) what I am about; which is briefly this.—But be secret—for thy life shall answer it. As I sometimes meet with people who boast of their good fortune in love intrigues ; I am resolved, in order to excel them all,2 to have always in my pocket feigned letters from women, which I will read on such occasions. This will afford me some diversion , and more happy than those of my fellows, who acquire conquests only for the pleasure of making them public, I will publish those which I have not had the trouble to make; but remember to disguise thy hand in such a manner, as that the billets may not appear to be written by the same person.” Upon this I took paper, pen, and ink, and sat down to obey Don Matthias, who at first dictated a love-letter in these terms: “You was not to-night at the place of assignation. Ah, Don Matthias! what can you say to justify yourself? How much have I been mistaken, and how well have I been punished for having the vanity to think that you would sacrifice all the amusements and business of the gay world, to the pleasure of seeing Donna Clara de Mendoza.” The next billet he made me write, was in the name of a lady, who preferred him to a prince; and the last, from one who told him, that, if she was sure of his discretion, she would make a voyage with him to the island of Cythera.3 He was not satisfied with dictating these fine epistles: he obliged me also to subscribe them with the names of ladies of quality. Upon which I could not help observing, that I thought it a ticklish affair;4 but he desired me to keep my advice to myself, until he should have occasion to ask it: I was therefore obliged to execute his commands in silence. This being done, he got up, dress’d, put the letters in his pocket, and went out; and I follow’d him to the house of Don Juan de Moncada, who had invited five or six gentlemen of his friends to dinner. The entertainment was sumptuous, and mirth, the best ingredient in all banquets, Volume One: III.8 137 reigned during the repast. All the guests contributed to enliven the conversation; some by raillery, and others by recounting exploits of which they themselves were the heroes. My master, unwilling to lose such a fair opportunity of profiting by the letters he had made me write, read them aloud, with such an air of assurance, that (his secretary excepted ) every body seemed to believe them genuine.—Among the gentlemen, before whom he was guilty of this effronterie, there was one Don Lope de Velasco, a very sedate man, who, instead of rejoicing like the rest at the success of the reader, coldly asked, if the conquest of Donna Clara had cost him dear.—“Almost less than nothing , (replied Don Matthias:) she made all the advances. Having seen me in the park, I...

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