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

OF GIL BLAS.
*S>3
ferves to appear at court. The King lores plays,
“ mulic, and dancing; and he muft not be deprived
“ of the pleafure of feeing and hearing a perfon of
“ fuch extraordinary merit. I have refolved, there-
“ fore, to fend thee to Toledo, to judge by thyfelf,
“ whether or not the is actually fuch a wonderful
■“ adtrefs. I -will be governed by the impreflion -flic
“ fliall make upon thee, as 1 depend a great deal on
■“ thy difcernment.” I anfwered, that I fliould give
ibis Grace a good account of that affair; and pre¬
pared for my departure with one lacquey only,
‘whom I ordered to put off the Minifter’s livery, that
^things might be done the more myfterioufly. And
this was very much to his Excellency’s tafle. I fet
out then for Toledo, where, when I arrived, I alight¬
ed at an inn near the caftle. Scarce had I fet my
rfoot to the ground, when the landlord, taking me,
•doubtlefs, for fome country gentleman, laid to me,
“ Signior Cavalier, I fuppofe you are come to town
to fee the auguft ceremony of the Auto da Fe *,
which is to be performed to-morrow.” I anfwered
in the affirmative, thinking it more prudent to let
him believe that, than to give him an opportunity
of queftioning me about my coming to Toledo.
You will fee (he refumed) one of the fined pro-
“ ceffions that ever happened : there are, I am told,
“ mote than a hundred prifoners, among which they
“ reckon above ten who are to be burnt.”
Next morning, indeed, before fun-rife, I heard all
the bells of the city tolling; and this melancholy
.found was to advertife the people, that they were
going to begin the Auto da Fe. Curious to fee this
folemnity, I put on my doaths in a hurry, and re-
* The Aft of Faith.
Vox.. IV