The Pioche record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1908-1925, 1921-04-08


six dueats-
For one reason or another he kept
changing employers; he served now
a dissipated hidalgo, then an IN
intriguing actress. then an aged lber'
tine whose daughter, in gratitude for
aiding her 10 win back her recreant
lover. Don Luis Pacheco, gave him
a hundred pistoles. and. on her IA
theirs death. got him place with still
another aged rOue, Don Gonzales.
whose dressing operations. when he
arose at noon, reminded him OF the
resurrection Of Lazarus.
Here again he acted as interrnedi-
AIRY I'm a love affair, but when he told
his infatuated employer that he was
being duped. he was turned on. though
given recommendation 10 the Mar
duesa de Chaves, reputed the clever
est woman in Madrid, because she was
as solemn as an owl. and rarely spoke.
Her salon. called "the Fashionable In
stitutlon for Literature. Taste and Sci
ence." was the resort for the wits and
noiables OF Madrid.
Here again he had easy work, hut
getting into trouble about n girl, was
compelled TO leave the city. On his
way TO Toledo he rescued a young mo-
bleman. named Don Alfonso, from ar
rest. They became friends and after
Don Alfonso reached home, he and
his father became Gil Bias patrons,
placing him as secretary to their rela'
tive the archbishop of Granada, who
was inordlnately vain and as broad as
he was long.
Gil Bias praised his sermons and
was regarded rs q young man of ex-
cellen. judgment until after the prel-
ate's mind was affected by apoplexy
and his homilies became discordant
rawlings. Gil Bias obeyed the arch
bishops command to tell him If he
fell short in his preaching and was
ANONYMOUSLY packed off. Reduced
to extremities once more, he passed as
the brother Of a disreputable actress
and thus secured the position as sec
rotary to Portuguese grandee, the
Marquis de Marialva. The trick was
discovered. He returned to Madrid
and after many amusing and not al
ways creditable adventures, was ap-
pointed under secretary to the duke
Of Lerma, prime minister to the king.
His duties may be gagged by his COM
ment: "One makes merit of any
dirty work in the service of the great"
His experiences with the upper and
the lower world, with actdrs, poets
libertlnes, physicians, bandits, adven-
turers, and hidalgos and their serv-
ants, had sharpened his wits, and his
native ability and smattering of edu-
cation gave him growing influence. He
was courted, flattered and bribed; his
conceit and avarce became colossal.
He declared that "a court had all
the soporific virtues of Lethe in the
case of poor relations" and confessed
that "every trace of his former gay
and generous temper had disap
peared."
Pride came before a fall. Having
been employed to procure a question
able mistress for the heir-apparent
he was arrested by the kings orders
and thrown into the dungeon of Sc
govia. The prince interviewed, but HI
was exiled from the two CASTLES. AL
his property was seized and his mer
cenary engagement to wealthy jew
eler's daughter was broken.
Then his friend, Don Alfonso, whom
he had got appointed as governor o
Valencia, presented him with sma
estate near that city.
On his way thither he stopped a
his birthplace and found his uncle
mental wreck and his mother worn OH
In caring for his dying father. III
gave his father pompous funeral
and settled an annuity on his mother
but the towns people We're SO indis
nant with him for his neglect of hi
family that they threatened to mo
him.
Glad to escape with his life, n
reached Valencia, where he was r.
ceived at his new home by seven {
eight servants provided by Don A
fonso. He got rid Of most of the
!, and lived frugally, marrying Antoni
daughter of his farmer, Don Basili
But his idyllic happiness ended wit
the death of his wife In childbirth.
Soon afterward the crown prin,
came to the throne and offered him
place of high responsibility. Gil Bl,
who bad learned wisdom, replied tn
"all he wanted was good situatio
: where there was no inducement to vi
!, late his conscience, and where the (
vors of his prince were not likely
;, be bartered for filthy lucre."
! He was made confidant to t
"a prime minister, who entrusted hi
: with the education of his illegitima
: son and heir. This brought him
, title.
;. After some years when the duke lC
/. the kings favor, Gil Bias followed h
O. into retirement, and on his death W
70 remembered with bequest of 10,C
pistoles. He returned to his beau
y full estate, made second maria