Languages & literature > Adventures of Gil Blas of Santillane > Volume 4

OF GIL B L A 3. a?
“ in this deplorable condition : and I am fo much
“ ufed to this country, that 1 cannot now quit it.
“ However, as the thing deferyes due eonfideration,
“ I will think of it at leifure : let us at prefent taka
“ care of your father’s funeral." “ That (faid 1)
“ fliall be ordered by the young man whom you faw
“ along with me ; he is my fecretary, and has fuch
“ zeal and underlfandingj that we may depend upon
Scarce had I pronounced thefe words, when Sci-
pio returned, it being already dayj and afking if
we had any occafion for his fervice in our perplexity,
I told him that he came very feafonably to receive
an important order which 1 had to give. When ho
knew what the bufinefs was, “ Enough, (faid he)
“ I have already contrived the whole ceremony, and
“ you may truft to my difcretion.” “ Beware (faid
“ my mother) of making a pompous burial: it can»
“ not be too modeft for my hufband, whom all the
“ town knew to be a very indigent u flier.’’ “ Ma*
“'dam, (replied Scipio) had he been ftiH more needy
“ than he was, I wou’d not abate two farthings of
“ the expence : for in this I regard my mailer only ;
“ he has been the Duke of Lenna’s favourite; and
“ his father ought to be nobly interred "
I approved of my fecretary’s defign, and even do
fired him to fpare no coft: the remains of vanity,
which. I dill preferved, broke out on this occafipn t
1 flattered myfelf, that in being at a great expence
upon a father, who left me no inheritance, I fliould
make the world admire my generous behaviour. My
mother, for her part, whatever modetly flie alFe&ed,
was not ill pleafed to fee her hulband buried in fplen-
dour. We therefore gave a chartc blanche to Sci*