Languages & literature > Adventures of Gil Blas of Santillane > Volume 1

G I L B L A S. 135
; rials; on the ftrength of which, I expected to
3 ch Madrid, where I did not doubt of finding
' ne good place: belides, 1 longed pafiionately
' fee that auguft city, which had been extolled
'me as the epitome of all the wonders of the
e rid.
e; While I recollected all that I had heard in its
aife, and enjoyed its pleafures by anticipation,
iieard the voice of a man behind me finging at
11 ftretch. He had a leathern wallet on his
tck, a guitane hanging about his neck, a long
- rord by his fide, ana walked fo fait, that he
/■as up with me in a very fhort time. Being
le of the journeymen barbers, with whom I.
id been imprifontd in the adventure of the
• ng, we knew one another immediately, though
ji drets was altered, and were very much fur-
rifed at meeting fo unexpectedly on the high¬
way, 1 aflured him that I was extremely glad to
; ave him for a fellow-traveller, and his joy feem-
d no lefs at meeting with me. I told him my
“^afon for quitting Valladolid; and he repofed
‘he fame confidence in me, by letting me know
^ !^at he had quarrelled with his matter, and bid
J )im an eternal adieu. “ If I had been inclined
* added he) to live any longer in Valladolid, I
r‘buld have found employment in abundance of
' hops ; for, without vanity, I can handle a razor,
wrid curl a muftachio, as well as e’er a barber in
‘ Spain: but I could no longer refill the violent
!! tefire I had to vifit the place of my nativity,
1 tom which I have been abfent thefe ten years.
f want to breathe my own country air a little,
nnd know the fituation of my family, with whom
&l hope to be in two days ; for they live at a.
place called Olmedo, a market-town on this fide
ti)f Segovia.”
N 2
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