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

fl that feeing our own country in profound peace,
r -ent to Portugal, fuom whence I pafied over
a Africa with the duke of Braganza, who gave
employment in the army under his com-
nd. Being a younger brother of a very fmall
• tune, I was under a necellity of fignalizing
rfelf in fuch a manner as to attract the notice
I the general; and did my duty fo well, that
i i duke promoted and put me into a condition
1 ferve with honour. After a long war, the if-
s of which you fliall know, I attached myfelf
the court; and the king upon the recommend-
on of the general officers, gratified me with a
nfiderable penfion. Senfible of this monarch’s
nerofity, I loft no occafion of manifefting my
atitude by my affiduity; and was always in
irendance at thofe hours in which people are
rmitted to pay their refpefts ; by which be-
viour I infenfibly acquired the love of that
ince, who honoured me with new favours.
' Having one day diftinguiffied myfelf at the
ig, and a bull-fight that preceded it, the whole
urt commended my ftrength and adrefs; and
len I returned home, loaded with applaufe, I
and a billet, importing, that a lady, the con-
left of whom ought to flatter me more than all
e honour 1 had that day acquired, wanted to
nverfe with me ; and that I ftiould in the twi-
;ht repair to a certain place that was defcribed.
iihis letter gave me more pleafure than all the
ijaife I had received, and I imagined that the
tjiribn who wrote it muft be a lady of the firft
finality. You may ealily guefs that I flew to the
jmdezvous, where an old woman being in wait-
^g, to ferve as a guide, introduced me by a lit-
Ip garden door into a great houfe, and fhut me
I a rich clofet, faying, “ Stay here until 1 inform
my