After having read this letter, I assumed a troubled and mortified air;
and having reflected for some time, I said to Sayavedra: “You do not, of
course, know the purport of this epistle. Don Antonio requests the loan
of my jewels, to decorate his intended wife on the day of their
marriage. You well know,” continued I, “that I left all my diamonds at
the Ambassador’s at Rome. Lose no time then in informing the Colonel,
that I am much vexed that it is not in my power to oblige him.” “I fear,
Sir,” replied the major-domo, “he will think it a mere evasion, and that
you refuse him.” “He will do me great injustice by such a thought,”
replied I; “sooner, therefore, than risk the possibility of such an
idea, I would hire some jewels. I should imagine that if I place good
security in the hands of some jeweller, he would be glad for a very
trifling consideration to lend me what I want for two or three days.”
“Who can doubt that,” said my uncle? “But why,” continued he, “need you
be at the expence of hiring what you may have for nothing? Do you
suppose that we have not as fine jewels as you can procure elsewhere;
and are we not disposed to oblige you in any way? Your relations will
take pleasure in obliging this or any friend of yours.” “Mendoza is
certainly one of my best friends,” cried I; “he is a man of quality, who
was very serviceable to me at Rome, and to whom I am indebted for my
introduction to the Spanish Ambassador. The Colonel, whose regiment is
at Milan, has won the heart of a rich widow in that city, who, in
opposition to the wishes of some of her relations, has consented to
espouse him. They are come hither, therefore, to solemnize their
marriage. He is a man of the nicest honour, to whom I should not be
under the slightest apprehensions in lending jewels to the value of
100,000 franks.” “Be he what he may,” interrupted Don Bertrand, “since
he has expressed a wish to see his wife decorated with diamonds, he
shall have that satisfaction.”
Overjoyed that he bit the hook so greedily, I told him with transport:
“Really, my dear uncle, you are too generous, and I ought to be
apprehensive of intruding too much upon your goodness.” “No compliments,
my dear nephew,” replied he, with precipitation; “I will lend you my
diamonds with all my heart. To convince you, I will this moment go and
choose some of the finest for your use.” Thus saying, he rose from table
and went to his closet, whence he returned, and put into my hands a case
containing jewels to the amount of from 7 to 8,000 franks. My three
cousins seeing the old gentleman treat me in this kind manner did not
wish to be thought less generous than he. They all promised to lend me
some, and sure enough they brought me the next morning jewels to nearly
the same amount. The most avaricious of the three came last, and in the
course of a very long chat contrived to turn the conversation upon my
benefice. He gave me to understand that if I was so well off as to wish
to dispose of it, and would be inclined to resign it in favour of one of
his own children, in preference to either of his cousins, a present of a
hundred pistoles should accompany his thanks. I made answer, “that his
eldest son having the advantage over all the other children in respect
to age, certainly appeared to me the most proper to succeed to my
benefice; but that having obtained it for nothing, I should resign it on
the same terms, not being a man to make such sort of bargains.” I
perceived plainly that this answer did not by any means displease him.
Just at this moment Sayavedra entered the room, having under his arm a
small casket containing my gold chain: “Do you still wish,” said he,
“that I should go where you desired me?” “You ought to have been there
and back again ere this,” replied I. “Recollect only, before you apply
to a goldsmith, to make inquiry in the neighbourhood as to his
respectability. You will then get my chain weighed, and return to tell
me its exact weight.” Though my cousin had already seen this chain, he
requested to look at it again, and admired extremely both the
workmanship and the fineness of the gold. Then, turning to Sayavedra,
“My friend,” said he, “tell my servant, whom you will find below, to
accompany you to a goldsmith’s who lives hard by, and who will tell you
conscientiously the value of the chain.” “My squire was soon back.” I
inquired “how much the goldsmith valued it at.” “Six hundred and
fifty-five crowns,” answered Sayavedra. “Well then,” said I, “just
return and request the loan of six hundred upon it, which I will repay
him in three days, with whatever he may demand for interest.” “Honest
man as he is,” said my cousin, “he will make no scruple of taking three
per cent, for three days as well as for six months, saying that it
makes no difference to him. I regret much,” continued he, “that I do not
happen at this moment to have sufficient ready money at hand myself; but
I know a man of probity who will be satisfied with only two per cent.”
This man of probity was no other than himself, who, notwithstanding that
he hoped to obtain a good benefice for nothing, rejoiced at the
opportunity of depriving the goldsmith of this little profit. I failed
not to assure this good cousin that he would much oblige me by getting
it done for me. “Not that I am in great distress for money,” said I, “as
you may see. At the same time I drew from my pocket two large purses
full of pistoles, which I showed to him. It is merely by way of
precaution that I wish to put my chain in pledge; for as we shall play
very high at the wedding of my friend the colonel, I do not like to be
at all short of money.” My cousin assured me, “that in two hours at
furthest, the six hundred crowns should be at my service.” Then taking
the casket out of Sayavedra’s hand, I opened it for an instant, just
that my cousin might see that the chain was in it, and after having shut
it again, delivered it to his servant, who returned in about an hour
with the six hundred crowns.
Unfortunately for my worthy cousin, my major-domo, in bringing the
casket back from the goldsmith’s under his cloak, had dexterously drawn
out the gold chain, and substituted a brass one in its stead.
Favello came to sup with me at night. He told me it was time for me to
strike my blow, for that I must sleep on board the next night, as the
galleys were to sail before day-break the following morning. “’Tis
well,” answered I; “my business shall be settled in less than four and
twenty hours’ time, and I will not fail to be on board by to-morrow
evening. If you will assist me by sending some of your people about
midnight for my boxes, my departure will be more secret.” The captain
promised this, and took his leave of me shortly after. We passed almost
the whole of the next day in getting every thing in readiness for our
departure. We packed up our best effects in our two largest boxes, and
filled with rags the counterparts of those which my honoured uncle kept
in his closet for me with such pious care. A quarter of an hour before
midnight, four of captain Favello’s men conveyed our two largest boxes
on board, leaving our two others to satisfy my landlord, whom I desired
Sayavedra to tell not to be anxious on my account, for that I was going
to sup at a friend’s, where I might very likely pass the whole night at
play. We at length got safe on board our captain’s galley. He had been
rather uneasy at my being so late, and asked me the first thing, how my
affair of honour had terminated. “My revenge is satisfied to my heart’s
content,” replied I. “I rejoice at it extremely,” said he; “for I must
acknowledge that I was beginning to be a little anxious for your safety,
the result of such an enterprise being always uncertain.”
Favello had caused a little chamber to be fitted up for me, into which
he conducted me, and where I found my two boxes, and a table covered
with delicate meats. We sat down, and after partaking of a good supper,
lay down to take some repose. But our several cares kept us both awake.
For my part I was all night terribly alarmed lest some cursed contrary
wind should detain us in port, and afford my relations sufficient time
to gain information of my flight, and to obtain an order from the senate
to have me arrested. My fears, however, were groundless. At day-break I
heard a noise which announced to me that the galleys were on the point
of departure. I looked through a hole in my chamber, and perceived with
joy that the whole crew had begun to ply their oars. We were soon out of
port; then taking advantage of the wind which was directly in our
favour, we spread our sails and were soon out of sight.