“God deliver every honest man,” continued he, raising his eyes towards Heaven, “from persons who possess power and bad dispositions united! How blind are these idols of the Court, who expect to be adored like deities! They must surely have forgotten that they are but miserable comedians, appointed to play principal characters, and that at the end of the piece, that is to say, of their lives, they must leave the stage like ourselves, and be thought of no more.”
I was so affected by this relation, that I felt more interested in my Captain’s misfortunes than my own; and assured him, in the most impressive terms my heart could dictate, that there was nothing I would not undertake for him, and that I would willingly expose my life to be of service to him. He thanked me for my good wishes. “But what assistance,” added he, smiling, “can I expect from you in your present condition?” “That we shall see,” answered I; “for though I am young, necessity inspires wit, and may supply my deficiency of experience. Leave it to me to find you the means of living at ease until we embark.” The Captain smiled again at these words, and, without making any reply, shook his head, to shew me that he placed but little reliance on professions dictated by my inconsiderate zeal to serve him. Had he known my talents he would have formed a different opinion; but I soon obliged him to do me justice.
As the galleys were a long while ere they arrived, we were obliged to be billeted, upon short allowance, in the different villages, and frequently moved our quarters. At every house I left a dozen billets, which brought us in at least twelve reals each, and from some of the more opulent inhabitants fifty. For my own part, I gained admittance into every house at free cost, without quartering myself on any in particular; and I never failed to leave proofs at each that I had the perfect use of my hands. I really think that I would even have carried off water from their wells, rather than have gone away empty-handed. By these means I so completely re-established my Captain’s finances, that he was enabled to keep open table again as before; and the dexterity of my hands supplied him abundantly with good cheer, at a cheap rate: fowls, capons, geese, pullets, and pigeons, fell as thick as hail into the kitchen, and hams were not wanting to complete the larder.
If by chance the master of a house happened to catch me in the fact, in case it were but a small theft I made a jest of it, and though a greater, the worst that could happen to me was to be carried before my Captain, who reprimanded me in a severe manner, and sometimes caused me to be imprisoned in a chamber, where I received by his orders a hundred lashes which I never felt at all, though I always made the room ring with cries as if I were being torn in pieces, though I was never so much as touched all the while. This satisfied the injured parties, and saved the honour of the officer. Sometimes the complainants themselves would intercede with the Captain on my behalf, conjuring him out of pity to forgive me.
Jests like these, however, generally grow serious. After these petty thefts, I was not content until I ventured upon greater. For this purpose, I selected five or six of the most resolute fellows in our company; we all disguised ourselves, and went on the highway, where we stopped several travellers, who, by immediately surrendering their money, prevented the crimes which their resistance might have caused us to commit. Our Captain was no sooner informed of these dangerous proceedings, than, dreading the consequences both to himself and me, he positively forbade my carrying on this game any longer, desiring me to confine myself to more innocent amusement for the future, such as finding false musters, in which science I was a perfect adept. By a false beard, or a patch on the eye, I could easily make the same soldier receive pay three times over, without detection. In short, I became so useful to the Captain, that he confessed to me that my industry alone was worth much more to him than the whole income that he derived from his Company.
CHAP. XIX.
Guzman proceeds with the Company to Barcelona, where he plays a trick upon a Jeweller, and embarks for Italy.
The galleys at length arrived at Barcelona. As soon as we received this intelligence, we marched thither to embark; but as the wind was not favourable, we were obliged to remain a considerable time in that city, where something more than my usual address was necessary to enable us to live in plenty at so cheap a rate as before. I soon remarked that my Captain was relapsing into his former despondency, and I easily guessed the cause: well might I know the nature of his complaint, since I was the physician who had already cured him of it.
For this once, however, I felt at a loss how to prescribe, being entirely unacquainted with the map of Barcelona, and the disposition of its inhabitants. I did not, however, forget to tender my exertions as a specific to my patient, who replied, in a serious manner, that we had no longer peasants to deal with, and that I must be very cautious what I did. Difficulties tended only to quicken my apprehension, and an idea occurred to me which I resolved to follow. I have already told you that the Captain had some jewels which he reserved for a rainy day. Amongst these jewels was a gold Reliquary, set round with diamonds, which he intended to dispose of for subsistence until we embarked. I requested him to shew it me, and asked if he could place so much confidence in me as to entrust it to me for a day or two, adding that I would return it to him with usury. “Oh! Oh! my little Guzman,” answered he with a smile, “what piece of roguery have you now in contemplation?” “You have only,” replied I, “to let me have the Reliquary, and keep up your spirits. If, notwithstanding all the precautions that I can take to perform safely the trick that I have in my head, I should be so unfortunate as to meet with any check from justice, I can at least pledge myself to save your honor, and to bear all the ill consequences of it myself.”
My Captain could hold out no longer, but gave me the Reliquary, saying, that he wished me success in my enterprize, whatever it might be. Nobody, indeed, had more interest in it than himself, to whom all the profit would accrue. I put the jewel into a purse which I hid in my bosom, the string of which I tied to the buttons of my doublet; after which I went to the first Jeweller’s I could meet, who, fortunately for me, was well known in the city as a noted usurer. I asked him if he was inclined to purchase a fine Reliquary. I shewed it him, and could easily perceive that he liked it very well, although he pretended not to think much of it. I did not wait until he asked me the usual questions, but told him that I was a soldier in a company newly raised, and that was destined for Italy; that I had spent all my money, and having no other resource, found myself reduced to dispose of this jewel, that I might not be entirely destitute. “You are at liberty,” added I, “to go and ascertain from my Captain, from the other officers, and even soldiers, who I am; they will inform you that I am styled Don Juan de Guzman: upon their report of me, you can make up your mind whether you will buy the Reliquary or not. While you are making these inquiries I will go and wait for you on the quay, where I have a little business to settle.”