CHAP. XXXVIII.

Guzman, being out of Prison, prepares to set off to Milan, but an opportunity offers of getting money, and he delays his journey.

Dinner being over, I ordered Sayavedra to hire horses for Milan, whither I intended to proceed the next day; for, after what had happened to me at Bologna, that place had now become more unpleasant and dangerous to me than Florence. Whilst my squire was gone to execute this commission, I called upon my lawyer again, and offered him my purse, but, still carrying on his generosity, he declined it, telling me that all he wished of me was to be persuaded that he regretted nothing so much as his inability to obtain me justice. I replied, that I felt as much obliged to him as if he had obtained for me a restitution of all I had lost; and we parted with the most sincere protestations of service and friendship.

Having returned to the inn, and finding myself at a loss how to employ my time, I amused myself by looking over three gentlemen who were at cards. I seated myself at the side of one of them, and observed his game; and, by a whim common enough to the human mind, felt myself insensibly more concerned in his behalf than for the two others. When he lost I felt sorry, and when he won I was as glad as if I was entitled to a share of his gains. Fortune was for a long time doubtful between the three players, though the money flew about among them in plenty. They had each at least thirty pistoles before them, and played for large stakes. The one whom I felt interested for seemed to know the least of the game, and was consequently soon the loser, when the company grew warm, and the bets began to run high, I longed mightily to advise; and though I knew that would not be fair, I could scarcely resist when I perceived that he had lost almost all his money. At length he lost the last farthing; after which he rose and left the room, telling the company he would procure more money, and should expect his revenge after supper. By what I afterwards learnt, this young man had just arrived at Bologna, to take his degrees in the civil law, for which purpose his friends had supplied him with sixty pistoles, which he had thus quickly got rid of, without having obtained even his doctor’s cap. One of the two gentlemen who had so completely emptied his pockets was one of his fellow-students, a nobleman of Bologna, and the other had the appearance of a French officer. This latter was somewhat older than his comrades, and the most skilful of the three. The French are no fools at gaming, though they sometimes meet with persons of other nations who trim them in their turns.

I withdrew to my own room, so much the more sorry that my doctor in fieri had lost, as I feared I had brought him ill-luck. Prepossessed with this ridiculous idea, I reproached myself in having stood by him all the game, and considered myself as the cause of his ruin. Then recollecting myself, and blushing at my foolish sensibility: what an egregious fool I am, thought I, thus to torment myself about what does not in the least concern me. Have I not troubles enough of my own, but I must grieve for other people’s losses? While my mind was occupied with these thoughts, I heard the young man enter his own room which was only divided from mine by a thin partition. He had just returned from the town without having been able to get any more money, and, more enraged against those who had refused to lend him any than those who had stripped him of his last farthing, “What misery!” cried he; “is it possible that in a town like Bologna, an honest man cannot find means of borrowing thirty pistoles? sure the inhabitants must be Turks instead of Christians;—indeed I can scarcely believe but the Turks would have humanity enough to relieve me in such an emergency!” Thus saying, he sighed most bitterly and stalked up and down the room for a considerable time; then relapsing into his passion, he roared like a bull, struck the table with his fist, and bestowed all the curses he could think of on the inhabitants of Bologna. At length, tired of raving and swearing, he threw himself upon the bed, continuing his lamentations in a more plaintive tone.

In vain did I endeavour to harden my heart, for I felt, in spite of myself, much afflicted at his misfortune. At this moment my confidant entered my chamber, and told me that after considerable difficulty, he had been so fortunate as to find return horses to Milan. “Speak low my friend,” said I, in a whisper. “My neighbor is so distressed at the loss of his money, that he has excited my pity, and I will confess to you that I have some idea of avenging his cause.” “How can you effect that?” said Sayavedra. “By taking his place this evening, and playing in his stead, to be sure,” answered I. “It must be neck or nothing—full pockets or empty all of a sudden. At all events, it is very certain that the small sum we have now left will not carry us far. Thirty pistoles, which is the utmost we have, will go such a little way with travellers who do not condescend to walk, and who live like noblemen at inns, that it appears to me we cannot hesitate a moment. What think you, Sayavedra, what do you advise? Tell me not that I am going to occupy the place of one whose ill-luck may be contagious, as I am no superstitious player, and besides shall be quite a match for my opponents.”

My confidant replied, “that he always approved of whatever I thought proper to do; but that since I condescended to consult him, he would recommend me not to trust too much to chance, but to take measures to ensure good fortune.” “What measures?” said I, pretending to be quite a novice in the business. “Are you ignorant then,” said he, “that when people play for the sake of whining, it is common to make use of every means without ceremony to strip our neighbour’s pockets? Honest folks now-a-days do this without the slightest scruple of conscience. Be assured, that what I tell you is true, and be not a greater fool than others; I will assist you as far as the little knowledge I have in these matters will avail.” I was overjoyed at this proposal of Sayavedra’s; and more particularly as he volunteered his services on this occasion; for up to this moment I had kept up at least the appearance of honesty with him, which is absolutely necessary if one expects to be faithfully served.

I now, however, told him that, as he well knew, I could have no other object than that of gain, and that if he was acquainted with an infallible mode of always playing with success, I should be glad to learn it of him; and that if even there were a little spice of knavery in it, it were surely pardonable in the present deplorable condition of my finances. He was charmed in his turn at my apparent readiness to submit to his instructions. “I need only give you one lesson,” said he, “to enable you to get all the money at the table. I shall watch my opportunities to take a turn round the room, either to snuff the candles, or to bring you a glass of wine; meantime I shall see what cards your adversaries hold, which I can easily communicate to you by signs agreed upon between us.” Sayavedra having thus instructed me, I agreed with him that I should be a fool indeed were I lose with such an assistant. We agreed then upon our signs, and my preceptor did not fail to perceive that he had a very apt scholar in me.

About supper time I repaired to the parlour, where the two fortunate players were already in waiting. My neighbour, the young lawyer, soon arrived, and we all sat down to table. During the whole of the repast, this young gentleman, melancholy as he was at heart, used every effort to appear gay, talked a great deal, drank the healths of all present, and affected the utmost good humour. After supper his two opponents proposed cards, and as they were taking their seats, the young lawyer said: “Gentlemen, I trust you will not object to play with me for thirty pistoles on my honour, having to-morrow a very considerable sum to receive.” At these words the Frenchman pulled a long face, and said nothing; and his companion declared at once, that he played with no one upon credit: that he had taken an oath to that effect, having always remarked that it brought him ill-luck. “Very well, gentlemen,” replied the other, “have but a little patience, and I will run to a merchant whom I was not so fortunate as to find at home in the morning, who will in a moment lend me whatever I want. The two gentlemen answered that he would be sure to find them in the parlour if he returned before midnight.”

It was now my turn to speak; addressing myself therefore to the two gentlemen who remained, I suggested, that if agreeable to them I should not object to make a third hand until the return of their comrade: that I would instantly give up my place to him should he rejoin the party, as having determined to leave that place very early the next morning, I could not have the pleasure of their company long. The gentlemen, who judged from my physiognomy that I could have but little knowledge of the game, answered, with joy, that they should esteem it an honour. While they were preparing the cards, I called to Sayavedra to bring me some money. He threw our whole stock, which was about thirty pistoles, on the table with a careless air, telling me he would go up stairs and get more if I thought I should require it. I replied that it was quite sufficient, for that I should think of retiring to bed when that was lost.

We were soon in a proper train. Sayavedra seated himself in a chair near the fire-place, and remained there by my orders to be in readiness to wait upon us. Being rather lucky in the onset, I soon got a hundred crowns in my pocket, without the least chicanery. This looks well, thought I, and if unfortunately for me he should return with his purse replenished, I shall not have occupied his seat for nothing. My good luck seemed to vex my adversaries exceedingly, who, fearing lest I should retire to bed, as I continually kept threatening to do, in order to irritate them the more, proposed to double the stakes. I made no objection, and a moment after, seeing that now was the time, I called to Sayavedra, “Wake up you lazy dog,” said I, “have you nothing to do but to sleep there? give me a glass of wine directly.” He rose up with the most innocent air possible, pretended to be but half awake, and in pouring out a glass of wine, enabled me by his signals to pocket fifteen of my opponents’ pistoles in a twinkling. My fund was now considerably increased; but to keep up the plan we had agreed upon, I allowed them to win some of this back again, though I might easily have added to my gains.

To say the truth, with my own knowledge of the tricks of the game, I might easily have emptied the purses of these gentlemen, who were by no means good players. It must, however, be confessed that I won their money much quicker with Sayavedra’s assistance, especially when it was not my turn to shuffle the cards. At last, I found myself master of all the money that had been spread upon the table, and said, “Gentlemen, it is very late; you know that I have a right to retire: nevertheless, that you may not think that I wish to carry off your money, and take an undue advantage, let us play again to-morrow, and I will not set off as I intended, though I have already hired horses for that purpose.” Nothing being more capable of consoling losers than the hope of having their revenge, they pressed me no longer to continue the game that night, and we accordingly separated, each taking the way to his own room, they fearing that I should break my word, and I fully determined to keep it.

Joy of having won so much money, and the agitation of my spirits caused by the game, prevented me for a long time from tasting the sweets of sleep. Happily, however, nothing but agreeable images occupied my thoughts. It was very different with my unfortunate neighbour, who had returned from the city without having been able to raise any money, and, not daring to shew his face in the parlour, had sneaked to bed full of rage and shame. I heard him sigh most bitterly, and tossing himself in bed from one side to the other. I was delighted in having avenged his cause to my own profit; but what is strange, felt no longer any compassion for him, as though he was less to be pitied because I had got his money. So true it is that we commiserate the misfortunes which we do not cause, but are insensible to those which are advantageous to ourselves.

The next morning my two gaming friends were particularly anxious to ascertain of the servants whether I was gone or not, and were much pleased when they learnt that I had really postponed my departure. They were afraid that I should escape them, while on the other hand nothing was less in my thoughts than to leave them without making myself master of the remainder of their money; but to increase their anxiety, I did not make my appearance in the parlour until dinner time. Without appearing to take any notice of them, I soon perceived, even during our meal, how eager they were to return to the attack with me; meantime I affected a coldness and indolence, the better to persuade them that it was purely out of complaisance that I was willing to give them their revenge.

No sooner was dinner over than cards were brought in, and my two champions, to shew that they were well provided for the contest, drew out a long purse each, well stored with good pistoles and Spanish doubloons, which they threw on the table, saying, “Behold, signor cavalier, what you will no doubt carry off to-morrow with you.” Little did they think how truly they said this! We took our places then, and the game commenced. It was my intention to lose at this point, so that I had no occasion for Sayavedra. It being by no means my intention that they should win much of me, I manœuvred it so well that I lost but about forty crowns after dinner, when the Frenchman proposed to play higher. “No,” said I, “we have played now for a long time; let us therefore rest a little, and we shall then be better able to devote a part of the night to this religious pastime.”

The hope they entertained of treating me still worse, or rather of ruining me, enabled them to keep up their patience until after supper. On my side my intentions towards them were not a whit more charitable, which I soon made appear when we set to again. Fortune was at first rather adverse, but with my own skill and the assistance of my faithful squire, I soon obliged her to declare herself for me, and my gentlemen soon lost all their doubloons, which were transferred from their purses into mine. After which, leaving the game to go to their chambers, they told me that if I should be in the humour to give them another game the next day, they should not be afraid of me. I answered that I should like nothing better, and that they would find me always ready to accommodate them.

I then retired to my own chamber with my confidant, who immediately prepared to undress me, but I prevented him. “It is no time now to enjoy rest,” said I; “it is too late to enjoy the comfort of reposing between two sheets at this inn. I intend to depart hence without beat of drum as soon as possible.” Sayavedra reminded me that I had first promised the gentlemen to play another game with them. “I have not forgotten,” replied I, “that I made such a promise; but I am not such a fool as to think of keeping it. Imagine to yourself the dangers I should expose myself to, by remaining any longer in this city. If it was in the power of the thieves to get me imprisoned, after having themselves robbed me, what may I not reasonably fear from honest folks who have real cause to accuse me of roguery? We have already won above six hundred crowns. Let us be content, therefore, and betake ourselves to a place of safety as soon as possible. Have you not hired horses?” “Undoubtedly,” answered he, “I have paid their master for their day’s work, and they will be in waiting for us by break of day.” “So much the better,” replied I, “for I shall not consider my purse in safety till I am at least ten good leagues from this place.” My confidant left me to enjoy a few minutes’ rest, well pleased to hear that we were possessed of so considerable a booty, and flattering himself with the sweet hope of having some part of it for his share. He was not, however, without some anxiety on this point when he recalled to mind the history of my trunks, which he feared was too recent a transaction to have so soon escaped my memory.

As soon as he heard the least noise in the house, and imagined the servants were stirring, he returned to my chamber, where he found me quite ready for starting. In fact, I had not so much as reclined upon the bed the whole night, but was most agreeably occupied in counting my treasure, putting the gold on one side, and the silver on the other, and in packing up as expeditiously as possible our little property. We soon settled with the landlord, and gained the spot where our horses were in waiting. The city gates were scarcely opened before we found ourselves in the country. Never was so lovely a morning. At any other time I should have admired its charms, but in the agitated state of my spirits the beauty of the day was very indifferent to me. My object was to get over the ground, imagining every moment that the hounds of justice would be up with me, and re-conduct me to the prisons of Bologna, there to compel me to restore the money I had so dexterously possessed myself of. I turned round every moment to see if any one was following us, and when I perceived a gentleman behind trotting faster than we were, my heart beat, my colour changed, and I did not recover myself until he fairly passed us on the road. So true is it, that every criminal carries about with him his own punishment.

I became by degrees more tranquil, and when we had travelled about four leagues, felt but little fear remaining. Breaking the silence which both my companion and I had kept till that moment: “Are you not tired, Sayavedra,” said I, “of thus travelling like two Carthusian friars? For my part, I feel quite absorbed in idle meditation. Let us talk. Tell me some story which may enliven us.” “Signor Don Guzman,” said he, “you will, I am sure, be ready to allow that it much better becomes him who has plenty of money in his pocket to tell merry stories, than him who has not a sous wherewith to bless himself.” “I understand you, my friend,” answered I, smiling; “but I assure you, that at dinner time we will come to a reckoning, and I trust you will not have cause to be dissatisfied.” “How you catch at every joke I pass,” replied he, laughing aloud; “I protest that I had not such a thought, knowing full well that in serving you I have done but my duty, for which I am amply paid in the pleasure of having assisted you in fleecing those two gulls of their doubloons.” The disinterestedness which Sayavedra assumed, whether real or false, pleased me exceedingly; and it being by no means my intention to baulk him of the remuneration due to him for his signs, I made him a present of twenty pistoles, as soon as we arrived at a little inn where we stopped to dine.