What share of the booty Guzman gives to his associates, and the resolution he takes of leaving Milan.
As soon as I was safely in possession of a sum of money so honestly acquired, I could have wished myself far enough from Milan; but as too precipitate a departure might have raised suspicions against me, I resolved to defer it for a few days. Sayavedra was so overjoyed at our good fortune, that he scarcely knew whether he was awake or dreaming. Then thinking of the stratagem I had invented, he extolled me above all the rogues in the world. “I did not give you credit for such a genius,” said he, “though I confess I had an excellent opinion of your abilities before; but I see clearly now that I am a long way behind you.” “Friend Sayavedra,” said I, “there is nothing very extraordinary in the scheme. What will be most worthy of praise is how to avoid the possibility of danger by flight: for,” added I, smiling, “than to walk into a gentleman’s house, the door of which stands open, steal a velvet robe from thence, and afterwards to receive a hundred lashes for one’s pains, nothing can be more easy.”
We passed the remainder of the day at the inn, and when night came on went out together to meet Aguilera at the rendezvous. As soon as he saw us approach, he began to laugh most heartily, and we followed his example. He then complimented me on my address, after which I proceeded to divide the booty. I drew from my pocket a purse containing three hundred pistoles which I gave to him, telling him that I intended the same sum for Sayavedra, and that I should keep the remainder myself, it being but fair that he who had done the most work should be the best paid. My two associates assured me they were perfectly well satisfied. This business being ended, and having nothing else to detain us, we bade Aguilera adieu, and returned home, where I employed myself after supper in counting my money. How overjoyed was I at finding myself in possession of upwards of seven thousand franks, independent of those I had won at Bologna. I had never been so rich before, and I thought no longer of having been robbed at Sienna.
As I was walking out the next day I chanced to espy in a shop window a gilt chain so well wrought that I mistook it for gold. I went in and asked its weight. The shop-keeper answered with a smile that all was not gold that glittered; but that if I wished to purchase this chain I should have it cheap. Being tempted by this offer, I gave him what he asked, and carried it off with me. Sayavedra, who was with me, could not restrain his laughter at my fine bargain, and when we had left the shop, said to me, “Signor Don Juan Osorio, if I mistake not, means to make this chain more expensive to some other person that it has been to him?” “That is by no means impossible,” replied I, and with that praiseworthy intention I immediately carried it to a skilful goldsmith, who in a few days made me a chain of gold so exactly similar to mine, that it was difficult to distinguish the one from the other.
At length I left Milan, carrying with me these two articles of jewellery, as well as all the feathers I had plucked out of Signor Plati’s wings. I gave out at the inn, previously to my departure, that I was going to Venice; but instead of following that route, I took that to Pavia. I stopped some time at this latter place, in order to make preparations for my second journey to Genoa, which I had resolved upon making if ever I found myself in a condition to appear before my relations without making them blush. After some consideration I determined to act the part of a Spanish Abbot returning from Rome. To this effect I purchased some fine cloth, with which one of the most famous tailors in Pavia made me a cassock and long cloak. To these I added some black morocco shoes and silk stockings, and the rest of my dress to correspond with that of a prelate. I desired Sayavedra to provide himself with two large baggage trunks, and when all was ready I set out in a litter conducted by a muleteer, with my squire on horseback, a new valet on foot, and another muleteer who led a mule laden with my goods. In this grand equipage was Genoa revisited by that same Guzman whom it had seen six or seven years before in a situation miserable enough.
CHAP. XLIII.
Of Guzman’s arrival at Genoa, and the gracious reception he met with from his relations when they learnt who he was.
We went to lodge at the White Cross, which at that time was the best inn in the place. It was already night, but as my squire had gone before us to prepare the landlord to receive an Abbot of the first rank, I found the house all in a bustle when I arrived. Some of the servants were at the doors with flambeaux, and after Sayavedra had assisted me in alighting from the litter, the master conducted me to the best apartment in the house, from which a gentleman much more worthy to occupy it had been turned out to make room for me.
The inn was at that time full of people of consequence, most of whom were not a little curious to know who I was, and my new valet, well instructed by Sayavedra, told all who questioned him that I was the Abbot Don Juan de Guzman, son of a noble Genoese who had married at Seville. I did not quit my chamber the first day, thinking it better to affect the Abbot of consequence fatigued with his journey from Rome, and to get every thing in readiness to shew myself at Genoa the next morning in the character of a prelate. While I was employed in decorating myself with this view, my faithful squire, who was assisting me, could not refrain from saying, “I fear my dear master grows suspicious of me, since he has not yet deigned to communicate the plan he has in contemplation.” “No, my friend,” replied I, “thou hast always had my confidence. If during our stay at Pavia I procured this new dress without telling you my reasons, it was merely because it was not at that time necessary that you should know them. But I will now satisfy your curiosity; for so far from wishing to conceal my project from you, I cannot execute it without your assistance.