The Life and Adventures of Guzman D'Alfarache, or the Spanish Rogue, vol. 23 by Mateo Alemán

Author:Mateo Alemán
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: Spanish fiction -- Classical period, 1500-1700, Picaresque fiction
Published: 2016-08-30T00:00:00+00:00

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CHAP. XXVII.

Guzman continues playing his tricks at the Cardinal’s, who at length dismisses him.

The Cardinal was certainly the best master in the world. What infinite pains he took to make me an honest man! He would neither employ threats with me, nor order me to be beaten, lest I should be terrified, and run away from him; the mildness of his character prevented him from resorting to such means. He endeavoured to inspire me with a love of virtue by gentle remonstrances, and even by gifts. When I did any thing praise-worthy, which indeed happened very seldom, he never failed to reward me well for it. When he was at table, and thought I had a longing for any little tit-bit, he would give it me, and this condescension was generally accompanied by a little good-natured bantering. “Guzman,” said he, one day, giving me with his own hand a piece of tart: “receive this from me as a tribute, which I pay to preserve peace between us. The fate of Master Nicola makes me quake for the safety of my sweetmeats.”

It was thus that he condescended to familiarize himself with his servants; who, delighted with so kind a master, would almost have sacrificed their lives for his sake. If servants generally dislike those masters who treat them harshly, on the other hand, those masters, who are kind to their servants, are always sincerely beloved.

A short time after the barrel adventure, a large chest of sweetmeats, finely gilded, and curiously arranged in boxes, was sent to his Eminence from Genoa. His Lordship was more than usually pleased with them, as they came from a very dear relation, who made him a similar present every year. The sweetmeats were exquisitely good, but being put into boxes which were rather damp, it was necessary to place them in the sun, to take off the moisture which the boxes had communicated to them.

The Cardinal seemed at a loss to know where they should be put to be safe from my pilfering hands. Each of the servants gave his opinion, but there was not one amongst them bold enough to take charge of, and to answer for them. “Well, well,” said his Eminence, seeing me come in, (for I had been out of the palace while this consultation was going on,) here is Guzman, who will extricate us from this difficulty; my friend,” continued he, “we are at a loss for a proper place to dry these sweetmeats in; for I am excessively afraid of the rats!” “My Lord,” answered I, “nothing in the world can be easier than to hinder the rats from touching them: you have only to give them up to me and my companions.” “Very true,” replied the prelate smiling; “but though this may be a very certain method to keep them from the rats, I intend to try another, and am resolved to give them into your keeping. Take care to expose them to the sun every day; and see that you give a good account of them; you see what state they are in.

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