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316 The Adventures of Gil Blas of Santillane chapter xii. Gil Blas takes lodgings in a house where he contracts an acquaintance with captain Chinchilla. The character of that officer; with an account of the affair that brought him to Madrid. On my first arrival at Madrid, I fixed my habitation in a house that was let into lodgings, where lived, among other people, an old captain, who had come from the farther end of New Castile, to sollicit at court for a pension, which he thought he had but too well deserved. His name was Don Hannibal de Chinchilla. It was not without astonishment that I beheld him for the first time, being a man turned of sixty, of a gigantic stature, and extremely meagre. He wore a pair of thick whiskers, that curled up to his temples on each side. Over and above his want of a leg and arm, a large plaister of green silk supplied the place of one eye; and the scars of many wounds appeared on his face. These things excepted, he was pretty much like another man. Besides, he had a good deal of understanding, and still more gravity; was scrupulous in his morals, and, in particular, piqued himself on his delicacy in point of honour. After having conversed with him two or three times, he honoured me with his con- fidence. I soon became acquainted with all his affairs. He recounted to me on what occasions he had left an eye at Naples, an arm in Lombardy, and a leg in the Low Countries. What I admired in his narration of battles and sieges was, that not one gasconade1 escaped him, nor even a word in his own praise; though I could have willingly pardoned him for boasting of the half of himself that remained, as an indemnification for the other half that he had lost. Those officers who return from the wars2 safe and sound are seldom so modest. But he told me, the thing that gave him the most concern was, that he had spent a considerable estate in his campaigns, so that now his whole fortune was reduced to about an hundred ducats a year, which was scarce sufficient to maintain his whiskers, clear his lodging, and pay for the writing his memorials.3 “For in short, Signior Cavalier , (added he, shrugging up his shoulders) I present one, thank God, every day, without being favoured with the least notice. One would say, that there is a wager between the prime minister and me, which of us shall first fail, I in giving, or he in receiving them. I have also had the honour to present several to his majesty; but the curate sings no better than his clerk; and, in the mean time, my castle of Chinchilla sinks into ruins for want of reparation.” “We must despair of nothing, (said I to the captain) you are now perhaps on the eve of seeing all your toils and troubles repaid with interest.” “I ought not to flatter myself with that hope, (replied Don Hannibal) three days are not yet elapsed, since I spoke to one of the minister’s secretaries, and, if I may believe what he said, I may make myself very easy.” “And pray, what did he say? (I replied) did he pretend that you was not worthy of a recompence?” “You shall judge, (resumed Chinchilla.) The secretary told me, Volume Three: VII.12 317 very plainly, ‘Master What-d’ye-call-’um,4 don’t brag so much of your zeal and fidelity . You have done no more than your duty, in exposing yourself to danger in behalf of your country. The glory alone which attends brave actions, is a sufficient recompence, and ought to satisfy a Spaniard in particular. You must undeceive yourself, therefore, if you look on the gratification you solicit, as a debt due to your valour. Provided it be granted to you, you will owe it entirely to the favour and generosity of the king, who is pleased to think himself indebted to those of his subjects, who have distinguished themselves in the service of the state.’ You see, by this, (pursued the captain) that I am still in its debt, and that, in all likelihood, I shall return as rich as I came.” One naturally interests himself for a brave man in adversity. I encouraged him to persevere, and offered to write his memorials gratis. I...

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