The Adventures of Gil Blas of Santillane, Volume 1 (of 3)Le Sage, Alain René
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The Adventures of Gil Blas of Santillane, Volume 1 (of 3)
Le Sage, Alain René
Adventure and adventurers -- Fiction; Blas, Gil (Fictitious character) -- Fiction
One of my first visitors was the little chorister of Mondognedo, who
had a fellow-feeling with me for the rack, and an equally light pair
of heels. I knew him at once, and he had no qualms about
acknowledging me as an acquaintance. We exchanged a kind greeting,
then compared notes since our separation. I was obliged to relate my
adventures in due form and order. The chorister, on his part, told
me what had happened in the inn at Cacabelos, between the muleteer
and the bride, after we had taken to our heels in a panic. Then,
with a friendly assurance at parting, he promised to leave no stone
unturned for my release. His companions, of mere curiosity,
testified their pity for my misfortune; assuring me that they would
lend a helping hand to the little chorister, and do their utmost to
procure my freedom.
They were no worse than their word. The corregidor was applied to in
my favor, who, no longer doubtful of my innocence, above all when he
had heard the chorister's story, came three weeks afterwards into my
cell. Gil Blas, said he, I never stand shilly-shally: begone, you
are free; you may take yourself off whenever you please. But, tell
me, if you were carried to the forest, could you not discover the
subterraneous retreat? No, sir, replied I: as I only entered in the
night, and made my escape before daybreak, it would be impossible to
fix upon the spot. Thereupon the magistrate withdrew, assuring me
that the gaoler should be ordered to give me free egress. In fact,
the very next moment the turnkey came into my dungeon, followed by
one of his outriding establishment, with a bundle of clothes under
his arm. They both of them stripped me with the utmost solemnity,
and without uttering a single syllable, of my doublet and breeches,
which had the honor to be made of a bettermost cloth almost new;
then, having rigged me in an old frock, they shoved me out of their
hospitable mansion by the shoulders.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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