, 1877-03-16

that benevolent worthy suddenly made
I him a physician. in a tVinkling, with
| these few words
I Know. my friend. all that is requir.
3 e,i u % bleed the patients and make
Z them drink warm water
. Equipped with this wisdom Gil Bias
I soon became as successful as his master
/ in keeping the grave-diggers from idle
ness. One Of his patients was the tricky
/ Camilla, who had made of with his
ring. which she wasfrightened into sur
I rendering by some OF the waggish
I friends Of Gil Bias. disguised as con-
stables, who confscated the ring, while
their prisoners narrowly escaped the
galleys.
Being but q young physician, and not
vet Injured to murder, Gil Bias grew I'M
easv. and, having put an end to a lively
widow, he was effectually scared out Of
the medical profession by the threats of
bullying fellow who had meant to
make something handsome by marrying
her.
Escaping to Madrid, Gil Bias STUN
bled on an employer who paid him gen.
erously for very little service, but did
not reveal even his name.
The inquisitive valet discovered that
his master was SO incorrigibly lazy that
he had converted all his property into
trunk of gold pieces to avoid the cares
of business. Being seen talking with a
rough-looking constable, Gil Bias was
presently dismissed for keeping suspi-
cious company.
His next master was gay young cav
ilier, who tried to build q reputation for
gallantry on love letters, which he re-
quired Gil Bias to write. But having
rashly ordered real names signed to
them, he got into q duel thereby, and
paid for the forgery with his life.
Gil Bias then turned steward for an
actress who was more merry than wise,
and finding the gilded vice of her estab-
lishment not much to his taste, he
bundled up his clothes one morning,
and transported himself to the service
of the lovely Aurora de Guzman, who
regarded him so favorably that he spent
his money in fine linen and drenched
himself with perfumes to charm her.
But she soon dashed his hopes by dis
closing passion for Don Lewis de Pa
checo whose morals she set Gil Bias to
investigate. The result was bad, but
the undaunted Aurora, in cavaliers dis
guise, and with the aid of her valet and
duenna, reformed Don Lewis, and in
less than three weeks, carried him off in
triumph as her husband.
Gil Bias next served q withered old
beau with dyed whiskers, but was soon
turned adrift for disclosing the secrets
OF q sedate young woman, who feigned
great regard for her ancient admirer in
hopes of fine bequest. A marchioness
then made him her chamberlain, but
falling in love with one of the maids,
his rival, a great fencer, disarmed him
in duel and compelled him to choose
between death and quitting Madrid.
The judicious Gil Bias started forth
with, and presently fell in with young
Don Alphonso de Leyva, who was flying
from justice for having inadvertently
slain the brother of his beloved Sera-
phina. The two soon encountered q
pair Of precious scamps, disguised as
hermits, who, pretending to be emissa-
ries of the Inquisition, plundered rich
merchant of Xelva. The new steward,
however, lost his fine Office by disdain-
ing the profered affection of an ancient
waiting maid, who made such an ado
that he was glad to go, despite the re-
grets of Don Aphonso. Reaching Gre
NADIA, he got q recommendation to the
archbishop, who was q great composer
of homihes, which he employed Gil
Bias to copy out in fair hand. Much
pleased with his clever secretary, that
worthy prelate charged him, one day:
my dear Gil Bias, whenever thou
shalt perceive my pen smack of old age,
don't fail to advertise me of it.
An apoplectic stroke soon after weak
ened his masters wits so much that Gil
Bias felt it his duty to modestly OBJ
serve:
''Your last discourse, in my judg-
ment, has not the energy of your other
performances"
The archbishop turned pale and ex-
claimed:
''Mr. Gil Bias, have been most
egregiously deceived in your narrow
understanding. Know that 1 never
composed better homily than that you
disapprovep
So saying, he dismissed the rash
young critic on the spot.
Making his way to Madrid again, Gil
Bias found there the Fabricus who had
advised him to turn valet, and who was
himself now become q very pretty poet.
By his offices Gil Bias secured q good
post with Count Galiano, who was ex-
travagantly fond of a pet baboon,
named Cupid. The monkey being dis
abled by q broken leg, Gil Bias tended
him with such zeal that he brought on q
fever; but when he recovered he found
himself turned adrift by his ungrateful
master, and robbed Of nearly all his
money.