The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-01-24

Alfonso, who protested that he would see all the duennas in Spain to the devil
 rather than to lose his steward and friend
 Gil Bias rode to Granada, where a rela- lives of Don Alfonso obtained for him the
 position of secretary to the Archbishop. He made good impression and soon be-
 came the venerable prelates right hand.
 The archbishop was very proud of his
 sermons, and Gil Bias was fortunate
 enough to praise the very passages that
 the dignitary liked best himself. Over
 joyed, he complimented Gil Bias on his
 excellent and exquisite taste and prom
 ised him that he would look out for his
 future
 There is one thing that demand from
 you, Gil Blas,' said he. ''I wish to avoid
 the mistake of most authors. who con
 tinue to write after their power has de-
 parted. If you should notice that my pen
 weakens with age or that I fall below my own level, you must tell me at once" Two months after this conversation the Archbishop suffered a stroke of apoplexy and his very next sermon showed the re-
 suit only too clearly. Gil Bias hinted that it was not quite up to the mark. The
 prelate became a little pale and asked with a forced smile: Then this sermon has not earned the praise of senor Gil Blas?"
 Nay, nay" said Gil Bias, alarmed "On the contrary, I find it admirable; but not so excellent as your previous ones. ]
 pray you most humbly to pardon my bold ness"
 God forbid,' replied the Archbishop God forbid that l should be so unjust as to reprove you for such virtue as sin cerity. But I grieve for you, because ] see how terribly I was mistaken as tc your understanding. I see now that you
 are too young, good son, to distinguish the true from the false. Know, then. thai never in my life have I preached better sermon than this one that has the mis- | fortune of not pleasing you. In the future I shall have to be more cautions in my choise of critics, that may gather around me persons who. have some power ot
 mind. Go, go," continued he pushing Gi
 Bias out of his room by the shoulders Ego, let my treasurer give you 100 ducats and with this sum may heaven be your guide. Farewell, Senor Gil Bias, I wish you all possible fortune and a little more 1 good taste."
 | Gil Bias had tasted too much of the life of great places to be content with any thing else. He experienced that common and wonderful sense of how the most trihing notice for the great penetrates the very soul of those. who are not accus- toned to it. He though he had learned that life is a matter of diamond cutting
 diamond; and he decided, that the simper of a simpleton would be no bad counter
 to the attack of sharpers. Estimating his own talents with the scale that his many experience had furnished him, he con
 cluded that he had as much chance as
 any other Spaniard to make his way in the highest place of all-in Madrid at court, where many man who was no great genius had picked up his fortune. Arrived in the capital, he fitted himself
 out with a brilliant cavaliers dress, hung
 mighty sword on himself and strutted calmly into the palace, where he lounged
 around pompously day after day. keeping eyes and ears open for an opportunity.
 One morning as he paraded up and down