Languages & literature > Adventures of Gil Blas of Santillane > Volume 3

G I L B t A S, sji
and I profited by bis advice, “friend, (faid I
to him one day) metMnks it would be no bad
fcheme for me t© write to the duke of Lerma : this
could produce no bad effeft : What is thy opinion
of the matter ?” “ Yes ; but (anfwered he) the.
great are fo different from themfelves at -different
times, that I don’t knew how your letter will be,
received : neverthelefs, I am of opinion, that you
Ihould write in the mean time. Although the mi-:
nifter loves you, you -muff not truft to his friend-
fhip, for being remembered by him : thefe kind of
patrons eafily forget thofe who are out of fight oe
hearing.”
Although this was but to© true, I replied ;
“ I'judge-more favourably of toy patron, to whofa
kindnefs for me I am no firanger : I am per-
fuaded, that he pities my affliction, which in-
ceffantly pi efents itfelf to his mind : he, probably,
waits until the king’s wrath lhall fubfide, befors
he takes me Out of prifon.” “ In good time (he
refumed) I wilh your opinion of his excellency
may be right : impfore his afliftance then by a very
moving letter, which I will carry to him ; and j
promife to deliver it into his own hand.”
I immediately called for paper and ink, and
compofed a morfel of eloquence, which Scipi©
thought very pathetic, and Tordefill-as preferred
even to the homilies of the archbilhop of Grenada..
I flattered myfelf, that the Duke of Lerma would
be moved with companion, in reading the melan¬
choly account which I gave him, of the miferable
condition in which I was not ; and in that con¬
fidence difpatched rtiy courier; who no fooner ar¬
rived at Madrid, than he went to the minifteris
houfe, and met a valet de chambre of my ac-
guainUnce, who procured for him an opportunity