_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.