CHAP. XX.
Guzman having arrived at Genoa, resolves to present himself before his kindred there. How he was received by them.
As soon as I had quitted the captain, or rather when I found myself abandoned by him, my only thought was how to console myself under this misfortune, and I soon forgot it, when I reflected that I was now at Genoa, where I had so long desired to be. I inquired in the city about my relations, and was informed that they were the most rich and powerful persons in that republic. I was overjoyed at this news, for I did not doubt that I should receive the greatest assistance from them, when they knew that I was a branch of their noble family.
I looked about for another inn where I could live thriftily, until I should be rather a more decent figure to visit my relations. My pistole could not do much for me, part of which I was obliged to expend in procuring a pair of shoes which I was sadly in want of; my clothes were also much worn as well as my stockings and hat, so that my whole dress was in a ruinous condition. “So much the better,” said I: “my relations can never suffer me to remain long in such a state to be a disgrace to them. Let me quickly, therefore, make myself known to them, that I may the sooner be relieved from my misery.”
I then immediately set forward with this intention, and asked the way to their house, boasting to every one I spoke to that I had the honour to be of their family, which was soon reported to them by some of their enemies, who, thinking that the sight of a lad so wretchedly equipped would afford them no great pleasure, were the more anxious to communicate to them the agreeable news. My generous relations were almost desperate. They looked upon my poverty as an infamous disgrace to them; and I verily believe, that could they, without danger to themselves, have caused me to be poniarded, they would not have hesitated a moment, for such practices were but too common in that country. But, as I was already talked of all over the city, where my father had been so well known, if I had disappeared all of a sudden, the cause would have been easily guessed.
Do not be surprised, reader, at my ill opinion of my relations; had you been in their place I do not think that you would have behaved much better towards me. Suppose yourself for a moment as rich as they were, and tell me candidly how you would have received a beggar, who comes up to you as suddenly as if he had just fallen from the clouds, and salutes you in the middle of the street saying, good morrow, uncle, or brother, I am a son of your brother, or of your mother; would you not be extremely mortified? and yet I was so imprudent as to address them in this public manner: thus I never saluted one of them that did not treat me with the titles of rascal and impostor, accompanying these epithets with threats; “take our advice,” said they, “and do not remain much longer at Genoa, lest you pass but an unpleasant time here.” In vain did I name my father, protesting that he ranked among the noble Genoese; they seemed all to have forgotten that there had ever been such a person in existence.
One evening I met a venerable looking old man, who accosted me in a polite and insinuating manner: “my son,” said he, “is it not you who have reason to complain of certain titled personages who have not chosen to acknowledge you for one of their noble blood?” I answered in the affirmative, and told him who was my father. “I recollect him well,” replied the old man, “and there are certainly in this city several of the principal nobles who are his relations. I can even introduce you to a banker who must have been a most intimate friend of your father’s, and who to-morrow, for it is too late to-day, will, I doubt not, be happy to satisfy you in every particular concerning your family. In the mean time,” continued he, “come and take up your lodging at my house: I feel quite indignant at the behaviour of your cousins towards you, who ought rather to have received you with the greatest affection: but follow me, and be assured that the banker will put it in your power to be fully avenged of them for their hard-heartedness.”
I accepted the old man’s offer of a lodging in his house by returning thanks to heaven by so fortunate a rencounter. His appearance was such that I did not in the least mistrust him. He had a good natured serious air, his bald head and white beard rendering his appearance truly venerable; he walked with a staff, and wore a long robe; in fact I looked upon him as another St. Paul. When we arrived at his house, which appeared to me like a magnificent hotel, a servant came to meet him to take off his long robe; but the old gentleman from an excess of politeness would not part with it, but sent the servant away, after having communicated something to him in Italian, which was so much Hebrew to me. He then conducted me into a large parlour, where we conversed concerning the affairs of Spain for above an hour, and from them proceeded insensibly to those of our own family, respecting which he seemed extremely curious, questioning me more particularly concerning my mother; and I answered him in the most cautious manner. This discourse was beginning to grow tedious, when the servant returned; they had another short conversation together in Italian, which I understood no better than the former. But immediately afterwards, the good old man addressed himself to me in Spanish: “I suppose,” said he, “you have of course supped, you must be weary, and it is time to be a bed. We shall meet again in the morning.” Then turning to his servant, “Antonio,” continued he, “shew this gentleman to the finest chamber in the house.”
I had much more inclination to eat than to sleep, for I was literally half dying with hunger; having unfortunately dined very sparingly at my inn that day; for my pistole was just at an end. That I might not, however, presume upon the goodness of an host who seemed so disposed to be of service to me, I followed his servant, as if I had a good bellyful, and was carried through an enfilade of seven or eight rooms paved with alabaster, each vying with the others in magnificence. From thence we entered a gallery which led into a fine chamber in which there was a very rich bed with superb tapestry. “You see your chamber,” said Antonio, “and the bed that is destined for you: none are allowed to sleep here but princes and some few of my master’s nearest relatives.”
After having allowed me to admire the richness of the furniture for a while, this servant offered to undress me, but I declined his assistance for very good reasons; my ragged shirt was by no means in a state to be exhibited; and in addition to this, the rest of my clothes were now of so very fine a texture, that they required a hand more interested in their welfare than his was, to take them off delicately. Either through malice, however, or that he thought I declined his good natured offer merely from politeness, he returned to the charge, and seeming determined to assist me in spite of my teeth, he caught hold of me, and drew off one of my sleeves so suddenly, that had I not prevented him with my other hand, he would undoubtedly have torn it to pieces. I then entreated him in a peevish tone to leave me to my rest, and he prevented my further anger by desisting as I desired. I retired to the side of the bed, threw off my rags which were held together only by a few laces, and jumped into bed, the sheets of which were clean and completely perfumed. This done, I told the servant he might take away the candle. “I am not so inconsiderate,” replied he: “it would be the means of causing you to pass a very uneasy night; for it is very common for large bats, which are very numerous in this country, to conceal themselves in chambers with so lofty a ceiling, and you will be much disturbed by them if you remain without light. Add to this,” continued he, “there are certain evil spirits that frequent the principal houses in this city, by whom you will infallibly be tormented, if you neglect to keep lighted candles in the room, the brightness of which, it is said, they are afraid of.” He told me all this tale with an ingenuous air, and I listened to him with all the credulity of an infant, instead of mistrusting this Antonio, whose knavish countenance ought to have been sufficient to have excited my suspicions.
No sooner had he left the chamber, than I got out of bed and bolted the door, less from fear of being robbed, than in the hope of thus securing myself from the persecution of the aforesaid spirits. Considering myself then in perfect safety, I lay down again, and reflected on the benevolence of my venerable landlord. So far from suspecting him of any bad design, which, had I possessed a little more experience, I should not have failed to have done, I represented to myself that he could be no other than one of my nearest relatives, who had not chosen to make himself known to me over night, that he might surprise me the more agreeably in the morning. “I would lay a good wager,” said I to myself, “that when I wake to-morrow morning, I shall find a tailor in waiting to take measure of me for a fine suit of clothes. I may rest assured that in future I shall never want for any thing, and that I have not lost my labour in coming to Italy.” Flattered by these agreeable thoughts, my senses were beguiled by degrees into a most profound sleep.