The Adventures of Gil Blas of Santillane, Volume 3 (of 3)Le Sage, Alain René
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The Adventures of Gil Blas of Santillane, Volume 3 (of 3)
Le Sage, Alain René
Adventure and adventurers -- Fiction; Blas, Gil (Fictitious character) -- Fiction
Whither are you going with that trunk? said he. I was so taken by
surprise, that my assurance failed me; and broad-shoulders, finding
that he had drawn a blank in the lottery, threw down his booty, and
took to his heels, rather than be troubled for an explanation. Once
more, whither are you going with that trunk? said my master. Sir,
answered I, with all the honest simplicity of a criminal pleading in
arrest of judgment, I was going to put it on board the vessel, that
we might have the less to do to-morrow, before we embark ourselves.
Indeed! Then you know, retorted he, in what ship I have taken my
passage? No, sir, replied I; but those who can talk Latin may always
find their way to Rome: I should have inquired at the port, and
somebody would have informed me. At this explanation, which left his
opinion where it found it, he darted a furious glance at me. I
thought, for all the world, he was going to cuff me again about the
head. Who ordered you, cried he, to take my trunk out of this house?
You, your own self, said I. Can you possibly have forgotten how you
rated me but a few days ago? Did not you tell me, with a flea in my
ear, that you would have me prevent your wants, and do beforehand
from my own head whatever your service might require? Now, not to be
threshed a second time for want of forethought, I was seeing your
trunk safe and soon enough on board. On this the gamester, finding
that I had cut my teeth of wisdom sooner than suited his purpose,
turned me off very coolly, saying, Go about your business, Master
Scipio, and speed as you may deserve. I do not like to play with
folks who are in the habit of revoking. Get out of my sight, or I
shall set your solfeggio in a crying key.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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