Part 12

I now felt so much esteem, or rather was so much in love with this lady, that I could not forbear breaking out in praise of her; and speaking from the fullness of my heart, I told Don Andrea, that no one could possibly be more sensible of his daughter’s merit than I was. The old fox listened to me very attentively, and to encourage me to explain myself more clearly, he held a long discourse on the necessity of persons of my age marrying, to avoid an infinite number of precipices to which they are daily exposed, and on the importance of the choice of a wife, since it commonly decided the happiness or misery of her husband. He then proceeded to assure me of the good opinion he had conceived of me; telling me that I had won his heart by my ingenuous manners and the confidence I had placed in him; and that I might rely that there was nothing that lay in his power which he would not do to convince me of it. I was not much behind hand with him in professions. I opened my whole heart to him, and protested that he might make me the happiest of men in giving me Eugenia. He considered for some time, or appeared to do so, to persuade me that I set his friendship at too great a trial; however, before we parted, I knew what I had to expect. He embraced me tenderly when I left him, and told me he had certain views of establishing his daughter more advantageously, but that he had given them all up to shew me how dear I was to him. At these words, I took one of his hands, and kissed it with a transport that proved more fully than all I could have said, the gratitude of my heart.

From this time the banker called me his son. He managed all my affairs; the six thousand franks which he had engaged to pay me in three months, he now advanced immediately, to assist me in furnishing my house, and he bought for me, at a cheap rate, several elegant pieces of furniture, which a person in want of money was obliged to sell. In a word, I dined every day with my future father-in-law. I saw his daughter every day, and enjoyed all the privileges of a son-in-law; except that one only, which the title of a husband could give a right to. One thing alone surprised me, which was, that in all the conversations I had as yet had with Don Andrea, he had never uttered a word about any portion. I attempted to sound him on this subject, but he gave me to understand that his intention was not to part with much ready money on the wedding-day. “You will receive only ten thousand franks down,” said he, “but you may rely on the sum of fifty thousand after my death.” I thought ten thousand franks but a paltry portion for the daughter of a man whom I had thought so rich; nevertheless, considering that tradesmen do not like to lessen their capitals, I was obliged to be contented.

I now earnestly entreated Don Andrea not to let me languish in the expectation of being in reality his son-in-law. He yielded to my solicitations, and our nuptials were celebrated with great pomp. My father-in-law paid me the ten thousand franks, as had been agreed, and I soon found employment for them. I made my bride a present of all the jewels I had left, bought her most superb dresses; kept up incessant rejoicing in my new house for the first fortnight; provided women and footmen to attend her. In a word, I set up a way of living which would soon have ruined me, had I not by my own industry supplied the means to meet this increased expenditure. The banker, it is true, promised mountains of gold, if fortune would but smile on his speculations. He was a man of vast designs and projects, and his son-in-law being something of the same turn of mind, we thought of no less than monopolizing in a very short time the whole business of the kingdom. Unluckily, however, for the success of our enterprises, his sole reliance was on my purse, and mine on his; and the illusion soon vanished, when we found ourselves obliged to communicate the state of our affairs to each other. The eyes of both of us were opened without recrimination, for, in fact, we had nothing to reproach each other with; on the contrary, our mutual confidence had the effect of making our union more close; and being now known to each other for what we really were, like robbers we swore to be faithful.

Our partnership at first made a great noise, owing to the mysterious tone with which Don Andrea told every body that he had chosen for his son-in-law a man who was possessed of immense riches. It was soon spread about, and every one was for dealing with us, and came to us in preference to other bankers; and we might by our credit only have increased every day the favourable opinion they had of our wealth, if we had been contented to have associated with tradesmen, and no doubt we should have made a considerable fortune; but the uncommon weak partiality that my father-in-law always had for people of the Court, put a check to our success. What he received with one hand was squandered with the other. If a Marquis, a Count, or a Knight of San Jago, were civil to him, they were sure to obtain any loan of money, and knowing his vanity, they would not fail to lavish upon him the most flattering compliments.

If a minister looked favourably on him, the very next day he would send him some rich present to no purpose whatever. He always had his head filled with chimerical projects which he would put in execution, and if I happened to shew him the folly of them, he laughed at me, and treated me with contempt, as a man who had not common sense, and was quite a novice in the business of the great world.

However, with all his experience, our best substance was soon spent, our stock grew low, and we were reduced to make use of every means to renew and uphold our credit. What engines did we not set to work for that purpose? we bought and sold any thing; we received pawns; we lent money at usurious interest; in short there was no sort of commerce which we were not engaged in; besides what I knew already, my industry, improved by exercising it, helped me to new expedients for the good of our society. However, I must own that I was but a mere beginner compared to my father-in-law. Our gains were great, and would have been sufficient to have maintained us agreeably; and if we had understood how to live with economy, we should not have been obliged to make use of some sorry shifts, which in spite of all our skill we were sometimes compelled to resort to. In addition to this, our domestic expenses were most profuse. If Don Andrea was fond of luxury and good living, his daughter was not behind hand with him; there was nothing too rich or too fine for her; we kept as magnificent a table as any nobleman, more servants than we conveniently wanted, and our house was continually full of relations and friends whom we entertained and treated with the greatest profusion.

This bustle did not less please my humour than that of my wife, and while our affairs went on well, I did not in the least oppose it. I got tired, however, in two or three years after my marriage, when I perceived that through bad management, and some unforeseen accidents, our fortune began to diminish apace. Frightened at the prospect of distress, I ventured to remonstrate gently with Eugenia; God knows how I was treated by her! I complained to Don Andrea, who reproved her; and the whole family blamed her for her behaviour; but even my softest words, the reproaches of her father, and the entreaties of her friends, did but exasperate her the more against me: in a word, she declared to me that she did not mean to have the least reform in her family. After this decree, which the temper of my wife made quite absolute, I wisely resolved not to contradict her any more, but endeavour to fortify myself with more patience for the future.

It was, however, with extreme grief, that I saw melting away, like snow, all the money I had brought with me from Italy; and I could not think of the consequences of my marriage without sighing bitterly for having been so deprived of sense as to marry at all. Sometimes, to excuse myself for having acted so foolishly, I recalled to mind the rich figure that Don Andrea made when I became his son-in-law; and who could have imagined that I should find my ruin in an establishment that appeared to possess the means of the most solid fortune? When I observed that there was no longer any hope of being able to live on the same footing, I applied to my father-in-law for advice in my embarrassment.

It was on this occasion that he showed me how skilful he was in all the tricks of business. “The truth is,” said he, “you must do here, what I have done myself in similar cases; which is to save the little that remains to you at the cost of others:” then without the least delay, he counterfeited letters of transfer, and false contracts, and I do not know how many similar deeds, all equally worthy of a public reward, if proper justice could always be administered to all honest folks that make use of them. He did not stop here; for in order to establish my credit, which was now become necessary to him, he made me purchase an estate of five hundred ducats a year, which his brother possessed; when I say purchase, I mean only in appearance, for we were not able, both together, to muster a sufficient sum to shew the Notary, that he might witness the payment of the purchase-money. It cost me, however, but fifty crowns to borrow this sum for one day, and thus the sale was apparently completed. At the same time I gave the seller a deed, by which I formally declared that the said estate did not belong to me, but was as much his as ever, to whom I abandoned the enjoyment of it, having no manner of claim. I was well pleased with these shuffling tricks, because they were advantageous to me. Besides, I knew that they were commonly practised in all trading cities.

Thanks to my father-in-law, I had now secured something to myself, let fortune be as contrary as it pleased; and being able to trade again upon the faith of this new estate, I went on in my usual courses. Unfortunately this state of things could not last long. People who have been cheated are sure to be undeceived at last: besides, my wife’s always spending more than I gained, was sufficient of itself to ruin me, and I could not hold out against it any longer. Don Andrea was still lucky enough to get himself out of the scrape. As for me, I could no longer keep out of the clutches of a cursed Alguazil, who arrested me on the part of my creditors, and led me to prison; but they found themselves overreached when they set about seizing my effects, and learned that they were secretly made over. I was not so unconscionable as to wish them to lose all; so I paid each a tenth part of what was due, promising to liquidate the remainder in ten years. I was set at liberty again on these terms.

The proud Eugenia was so extremely mortified at my imprisonment and bankruptcy, the shame of which she thought would fall on her only, that she could not be consoled, and died very shortly after; and as she left no child, I found myself under the obligation of refunding her dowry, which under my present circumstances, could not fail to destroy my every project. To tell the truth, therefore, the tears I shed at her death were not the effect of the loss of my wife, but of regret for my money which she had so foolishly squandered, and for her’s which I had to return to her father. Notwithstanding which I did not fail to act the good husband, and ordered her funeral so superb, that my creditors murmured at it. Though I had now become a widower, I did not cease to live on good terms with Don Andrea. Besides that I could not have gained any thing by tricking him, he was the only man who was in possession of all my secrets, and I had still occasion for his assistance. I submitted, therefore, very patiently to all he required of me, and he was so much pleased with my conduct towards him, that he behaved in an equally handsome manner towards me.

CHAP. XLIX.

_Guzman, after the death of his Wife, wishes to embrace the Ecclesiastical life, and with that view repairs to Alcala de Henarés to study. The fruits of his studies._

After having rendered the last duties to my wife, and her dowry to her father, I still remained in my own house, which was now all that was my own; and even this was completely stripped, with the exception of one room, which Don Andrea, out of compassion, had furnished for me with a few articles of trifling value. Here I was occupied in making reflections on the past, and in devising means for my future subsistence.

What now can I possibly do? said I to myself. I fear I shall find no more Apothecaries, no Banker like that at Milan, no more relations to trust their jewels to my care. What then is to become of me? O Sayavedra, my dear confidant, how do I now miss you! Why can you not be witness of my troubles when I stand so much in need of your address and advice? Were you now present, we could together devise some scheme for my relief; but, alas, I have lost you! I ought no longer to rely on your assistance, which, perhaps, at this moment, you repent sorely having ever afforded me.

This last thought affected me exceedingly, and I felt so disgusted with the world that I resolved to quit it. I must, said I, turn my thoughts to the church. In that asylum I may possibly find that solid happiness which I have hitherto sought for in vain. How many knaves have made their fortune in this way? why, therefore, should I not try my luck? I may become a good preacher; and the pulpit is the road to bishoprics. Let the worst come to the worst, with the money I may get for my house I may be able to purchase some chance benefice; and even should I be so unfortunate as not to meet with one, I can only put my money out at interest; and if the dividends be not sufficient for me to lead an agreeable life, I must make up for it by becoming chaplain to some rich nunnery. Though I already know more Latin than is necessary to fill a place of that description, yet will I, nevertheless, go to Alcala, and take one course of philosophy, and another of theology, that I may be the more worthy of it. And if the condition of a scholar should appear to me too arduous for a man of my age, I can but at last have recourse to the good fathers of the order of St. Francis, who, when they have once heard me sing, would receive me among them, though I could not read a word.

Thus you see, friendly reader, that persons of wit are never at a loss. A fine resource, truly! you will answer; to embrace an Ecclesiastical life with the sole view of enjoying every terrestrial comfort, is not seeking a very canonical vocation. Agreed, I will not contend with casuists on this point: but will candidly confess that I consulted custom more than the Canons, and that, in thinking of becoming priest, I studied nothing but my own convenience. I communicated my intentions to my father-in-law, wishing to persuade him that they were the effect of a thousand moral reflections I had made on the uncertainty of all earthly blessings; or rather that I was inspired by heaven. As this banker was not much better than myself, he applauded my resolution, which, he said, he could not sufficiently praise, were it only for the sake of escaping my creditors.

It now only remained for me to sell my house, which I very soon did. I met with a purchaser who gave me almost as much as it had cost me, the quarter of the town having been much built upon since I bought it. As soon as I had completed this sale, I carried the money to the bank. It could bring me in but very little, but in addition to its being there in safety, I could draw it out again whenever I pleased. After having thus disposed of my property, procured a proper dress for a student who aspired to sacred orders, which consisted of a long cloak and cassock, and after having bid adieu to Don Andrea and my best friends, I set out for the town of Alcala, where I arrived a few days before the opening of the colleges. I was at first doubtful where I should take up my lodging; whether to enter myself in a college, or hire an apartment and board in the town. I had been accustomed to enjoy entire liberty at my own house, to live according to my own fancy, to eat what I pleased, without being subject to stipulated hours, which I must conform to in a boarding house, where I should dine and sup with the students, the majority of whom were mere children. On the other hand, when I considered the expense of an establishment of my own; of keeping a servant who might be addicted to thieving, gallantry, or wine, or perhaps all three together; not to mention other inconveniences which are attached to the life of a young man completely his own master, I decided at last that I would enter myself at one of the boarding houses, and accordingly agreed with one which I thought would be most suitable to my age.

I was not long without acquaintances. I was fortunate enough to meet with some students of about my own age. With these I associated; for I was ashamed to keep company with the younger ones. I began by applying myself to the study of philosophy, in which, as I united indefatigable perseverance with a natural happy genius, I soon made great progress, and at the end of two years was considered one of the first students in the university. After having gone through my course of philosophy, I took my degrees as Master of Arts, in which I got the second place, though I well deserved the first. This injustice was winked at in favour of the son of one of our most celebrated professors. I did not murmur at it; on the contrary, I felt more pride in hearing it said by every body that I had been unfairly passed over, than I should have felt if justice had been done to me. I next commenced upon Theology, and continuing to study with the same ardour, it soon became mere amusement to me, and I felt, or, at least, fancied that I grew wiser every day.

Although I made it a point of honour never to miss a single lesson, and was, consequently, much engaged in my scholastic duties, yet I had still some time for pleasure. As I had been long accustomed to good cheer, and fared but badly at the boarding-house, I generally gave a little entertainment twice or thrice a week, by which I acquired the reputation of a rich and generous man; and what will more surprise you, during almost four years that I lived in this manner, I formed no sort of acquaintance with females, even the most modest. I scarcely knew whether there were any lovely women in the town; in fact, I carefully shunned every opportunity of hearing any thing about them. I took great credit to myself for being thus upon my guard against the fair sex; for I knew by experience how dangerous it was for me, and had the resolution during almost the whole course of my studies to avoid that rock: happy indeed, had I completely finished them without at last splitting upon it!

I was now on the point of passing as Bachelor in Divinity; and I was obliged in the first place to take orders, which are only bestowed on persons who possess some cure, chapel, or other living, I was greatly at a loss what to do; for since I had studied at the University I had consumed the better half of my resources. In this dilemma I bethought myself of applying again to the father of expedients, Don Andrea. I had taken care to keep up a correspondence with him, in which I had rendered him an exact account of my success in my studies, which he had always professed himself extremely pleased at. I now wrote and informed him of my present difficulty, and entreated his advice. He answered that he was much pleased to have it in his power to oblige me; that he would with that view make over my wife’s portion to me as if to found some chapel, and that in the deed it should be stipulated, that I should cause a mass to be said every day for the soul of the defunct. But at the same time, I was to declare by another deed, that this property was not a farthing of it my own, and that I would put Don Andrea in possession of it whenever he thought proper. A false conveyance of this description, made for religious purposes, so far from appearing to me to infringe the decrees of the holy councils, did not raise the slightest scruple in my conscience. I grant you I was a man not to be over nice in the business, any more than my father-in-law, who I verily believe had never in his life transacted business less deviating than this from the Ecclesiastical Canons. Be that as it may, however, not being able to do otherwise, this was the gate at which I now fully intended to enter the sanctuary of the ministers of religion.

In the mean time, until I could receive orders, I began to avoid all sorts of company; and to live more regularly in frequenting places of worship. One day when the weather was extremely fine for walking, I quitted the town on a pilgrimage to St. Mary of the valley, an agreeable hermitage, situate about a mile distant. On my way I overtook a great concourse of people on their journey to the same spot, and the Chapel of the Saint was so crowded when I arrived, that there was scarcely room to kneel down in it. A lady, who sat two or three paces from me, observing my embarrassment, retired somewhat further back, as if by that action to make room for me next to her. I was extremely surprised at this polite attention from a female with whom I was not acquainted, and who, I thought, could not know me; and in spite of my affected gravity, I could not help fixing my eyes on her elegant figure, doubting not, from her dress and demeanour that she was a lady of some consequence.