“I have already told you at Milan that my father, a noble Genoese, married at Seville a lady of the house of Guzman, whence I took my name. I have even related to you the history of my life at large; but I believe I never once mentioned that adventure to you which has been the cause of my forming the enterprise I am about to discover to you. You must know that about seven years since I set out from Toledo in tolerable good plight to visit my relations here in Italy; but I took so little care of my money on the road, that I arrived at Genoa in a most miserable condition. This did not, however, deter me from presenting myself before several members of the family, and among others one of my worthy uncles, who received me so ill, or rather caused me to be treated so cruelly, that I swore to be revenged on him if fortune ever afforded me the opportunity. This oath I intend to keep now that it is in my power; but the only vengeance that I am desirous of taking on my relations is to rob them. With this view I have assumed the dress which so much surprises you. Besides that it inspires respect; it appears to me more calculated than any other to disguise my features from those who saw me before; the alteration that time has made in them not being so great but that I should be in fear of being recognized. Let us prepare then, my dear Sayavedra, to play off some of our best tricks in our family, to which I am incited not only by a just resentment, but by interest also.” My confidant made answer, that I had only to give my commands, and he would not fail to follow my instructions. We consulted together what was best to be done, and proceeded as follows.
The second morning after my arrival I dressed myself out in my cassock and long cloak, and when I looked in the glass I scarcely knew myself. Without any vanity I did not look amiss. If I had not possessed the talent which I did to imitate all sorts of persons, I had seen at Rome so many fine models of Abbots of consequence, that I could not possibly have failed. I soon made myself master of some of their best airs: I learnt how to draw my chin down to my neck with good effect; to assume a grave and austere carriage; hold up my cassock and cloak just high enough to exhibit one leg which was not ill-made, with the silk stocking and handsome shoe; to carry my hat in a manner equally genteel and modest; to look at people with a peculiarly absent air, and to modulate properly the tones of my voice in speaking to them. I possessed this knowledge perfectly well in theory, and now was the time that I should shew the city that I was as able to practise it. My major-domo Sayavedra followed with my lackey, both very appropriately equipped. I was stared at with the curiosity that a stranger generally excites, and many made most profound bows to me, or rather to my fine dress; for one is treated in the world according to the appearance one makes. Let even Cicero present himself ill-dressed, and he would pass for a college servant at the highest.
I continued walking for above an hour, acknowledging the respectful civilities I received like an Abbot who was accustomed to them. After which I returned to the inn, where the landlord immediately informed me that dinner was ready, and asked if I had any objection to some persons of quality dining at the same table. I answered that it would afford me pleasure. Having descended into the dining room, four gentlemen arrived immediately and saluted me with respect. I returned the compliment very politely, and dinner being served up, I took the seat of honour, and then requested the gentlemen to seat themselves at table. The conversation was at first serious on my account. I remarked this, and enlivened it myself, and to let these gentlemen see that I was not the devil, though dressed in black, I related two or three jocular stories, which soon excited the rest to follow my example.
They were usually in the habit of amusing themselves at play after dinner, and sometimes also after supper. They played high, but very honourably. I passed an hour in looking over them, after which I retired. They would have been much pleased if I had taken a fancy to play with them, thinking me a rich Abbot rather than a skilful gamester, though they ought to have known that there are a good many keen hands even among the clergy. I did not choose to satisfy their desire so soon, whatever longing I had for it. On the contrary, I professed a repugnance for play, and it was not until we became more familiar together, that I could be brought to join them, and then I pretended to yield to their pressing entreaties out of pure complaisance. I played only a short time, and for very small stakes, without employing Sayavedra, or exerting my own skill. Thus what I lost was a mere trifle, and I never pocketed what I won. Sometimes I left it to pay for the cards, and at others distributed it among the servants. This conduct acquired me the reputation of generosity, whence it happened that whatever person chanced to drop in after dinner to look at us playing, generally crowded round me in the hope of receiving some ducats.
One day, having won about forty pistoles, I took up five and twenty of them, and left the remainder for those who stood about me. Then turning towards a captain of a galley, who was among the interlopers, I said to him in a low voice, slipping the money which I held in my hand into his: “You have been too long in Spain to be ignorant that a gentleman who has looked over the game and taken an interest in the fortune of any particular player, never refuses any little token of gratitude that may be offered him on that account.” He appeared somewhat confused by this behaviour; but there are times in this life, as is said, when one pistole is worth a thousand. My officer’s pocket was just at this time so completely drained, that the pleasure of seeing this sudden shower of gold, overcame his shame. In spite of his poverty however, I doubt whether he was more sensible of the benefit than of the manner in which it was conferred. I completely gained his heart. This he made several attempts to assure me of, but I interrupted him by engaging him to talk of his own pursuits. I even requested him to do me the honour to dine and sup with me occasionally, for he did not usually dine at our inn; and in taking leave of him I requested his friendship.
This captain was a man of merit, of good understanding, and agreeable person, and as he was known to be a very honest man, he was received in the best companies, where he made as good an appearance as his limited income as a captain of a galley would permit. He was fond of gaming; and though extremely unlucky at it, he could never restrain himself while a crown remained in his pocket. In addition to this he was much addicted to women, which alone would have been sufficient to have ruined him had he been ever so rich. He called himself Favello, a name which a lady whom he had formerly loved had bestowed on him, and which he had ever since gone by, in remembrance of her. He told me the history of his life a few days after, which I could not hear without sighing, so forcibly did it recall to my mind my amour at Florence. The good qualities of this captain, however, were not the only cause of all my politeness to him; for I knew that the galleys would soon sail for Barcelona, and intending as I did to profit by this opportunity of returning to Spain, after having robbed my honest relations, the friendship of Captain Favello was likely to be too useful to me, to neglect to acquire it.
No sooner was I up the next morning, than he called to tender his services, and to invite me to take a sail with him on the water: which I gladly accepted. I was conducted after dinner to his galley, where I was received with all the honors that the Pope or the Doge of Genoa could have expected. We left the harbour to admire the fine pleasure-houses along the sea shore, which form a most charming spectacle. Our officer, who was a Genoese by extraction, and spoke freely whatever he thought, did not content himself with naming the proprietors, but added their characters also. Among those whom he spared the least, he chanced to mention one of my relations. I began to laugh: “Softly, Mr. Captain,” said I, “I ask quarter for this last gentleman, for you know that I am one of his family.” “Of his family?” cried he, with surprise mingled with confusion, “How can that be?” “I will tell you,” replied I; “my father was a noble Genoese, but having become a bankrupt to a large amount, was obliged to pass over into Spain. He settled at Seville, where he established his affairs by marrying a lady of the house of Guzman, which name I bear preferably to my own, for two reasons; first, to secure to myself a succession which might otherwise have escaped me; and, secondly, because being at least as much the son of my mother as my father, I thought myself entitled to make choice of which ever of their two names would confer most honour on me.”
“You perhaps imagine,” said Favello, “that you are speaking of circumstances with which I am not at all acquainted; but you are mistaken. I am particularly intimate with two of your cousins, who have more than once conversed with me respecting your father. They have told me that he was a shrewd intelligent man: that he was taken prisoner by an Algerine Corsair, and that after having recovered his liberty through the love which a lady at Algiers conceived for him, he went to Seville in search of his correspondent, where he captivated a lady of quality and married her. You are then the son of that illustrious house?” “At your service,” replied I, smiling again. “Know then,” continued he, “that Signor Don Bertrand, your father’s eldest brother, is full of years, still unmarried, and one of the richest nobles in Genoa.” “You tell me what I was ignorant of,” said I; “for I have never seen him, and my mother never had any correspondence with him.” “I am surprised,” said he, “that you have not already made yourself known to him. Your relations are certainly of great consequence in this country, and I know not what should prevent your seeing them.” “What would you have me do?” answered I; “would you have me announce my name before people who do not know me, and who will naturally be apt to discredit what a man says who has only his own word as a security. No no, I stand in no need of their acquaintance, for I want nothing of them. Let us remain as we are. Though they should know that I am here, as a stranger, it is not for me to make the first advances.” “You are right,” said Favello, “but allow me to call and apprise them to-morrow morning of your arrival. I am persuaded that I shall no sooner have informed them than they will behave with proper attention towards you.” “You are a man of prudence and good understanding,” replied I, to the captain, “and may therefore do what you think best. Only recollect to put no restraint on their inclinations, for it is by no means my wish to intrude myself on their acquaintance.”
While we were conversing in this manner, Favello had a very handsome collation of the best fruits and sweetmeats served up, which he had prepared on purpose for me, and on which he must have expended the greater part of the pistoles I had presented him with. We still continued to talk together, and the officer, who was perfectly well acquainted with my uncle and cousins, told me so many particulars relating to them, that I soon knew almost as much of their affairs as my own. Night coming on obliged us to re-enter the harbour, where we left the galley, and I took the captain home with me to my inn, where we supped with the gentlemen who lodged there. After supper these gentlemen invited me to play a game with him, saying they had not forgotten the forty pistoles I had won of them the preceding day, and that it was but just I should give them their revenge. I consented; and feeling myself in good cue for playing, I said to Favello: “At least Mr. Captain, you will recollect we go halves this time.” He replied with a smile, that he thought me so lucky, that he should be proud to be my partner. Fortune favoured me from the very commencement to the end of the game. I won a hundred pistoles, which I divided with the captain. This was the more agreeable to him as it did not hurt his pride. Thus I gained his friendship by degrees, so that he could not possibly refuse me the favour I expected of him.
He did not fail to keep his promise of going the next day to my relations to announce to them the arrival of the Abbot Don Guzman at Genoa. You will readily imagine that he gave them a fine account of my person, merit, and generosity, for in the afternoon of the same day they called at the inn, completely dressed out for the occasion. My major-domo, to whom I had given my instructions, met them at the door, and conducted them to my apartment where I received them with a grave face, but with much civility. At first there came only two, both children of a senator who had been dead five or six years, and who was one of my father’s brothers. A third next made his appearance, the son of a sister of my father’s, still living. They loaded me with compliments, and made an offer of their house, credit, and purse, because Sayavedra had given them to understand that I wanted neither. If nothing else could convince them that I was a very rich abbot, what they observed in my apartment was sufficient to impress them with that opinion of me. I had taken care to spread negligently on the table my gold chain, various other jewels, and the Milan casket with the lid open, in which their sharp eyes doubtless espied part of the pistoles it contained.