Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1921-05-26


changing employers; he served now
a dfssipated hidalgo, then an in
intriguing actress, then an aged ilber-
tine whose daughter, in gratitude for
aiding her to 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 intermedi-
airy in a love affair." but when he told
his infatuated employer that he was
being duped, he was turned off, though
given a recommendation to the Mar
auesa de Chayes, reputed the clever
est woman in Madrid because she was
as solemn as an owl, and rarely spoke.
Her salon, called "the Fashionable In
stitution for Literature, Taste and Sci
ence," was the resort for the wits and
notables of Madrid.
Here again he had easy work, but
getting into trouble about a girl, was
compelled to leave the city. On his
way to Toledo he rescued a young no.
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 inordinately vain and as broad as
he was long.
Gil Bias praised his sermons and
was regarded as young man Of ex-
cellent 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 a merit of any
dirty work in the service Of the great"
His experiences with the upper and
NJ
libertines, 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
coneeit and avarice 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 dlsap-
peared."
Pride came before a fall. Having
been employed to procure 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 he
was exiled from the two CASTLES. All
his property was seized and his mer-
cenary engagement to wealthy jew.
elers daughter was broken.
Then his friend, Don Alfonso, whom
he had got appointed as governor OF
Valencia, presented him with small
estate near that city.
On his way thither he stopped at
his birthplace and found his uncle a
mental wreck and his mother worn out
in caring for his dying father. He
gave his father a pompous funeral,
and settled an annuity on his mother,
but the towns people were SO indig-
nant with him for his neglect of his
family that they threatened to mob
him.
Glad to escape with his life, he
reached Valencia, where he was re-
ceived at his new home by seven or
eight servants provided by Don AL
fonso. He got rid of most Of them
and lived frugally, marrying Antonio,
daughter of his farmer, Don Basilio.
But his idyllic happiness ended with
the death Of his wife in childbirth.
Soon afterward the crown prince
came to the throne and offered him a
place of high responsibility. Gil Bias
who had learned wisdom, replied that
"all he wanted was a good situation,
where there was no inducement to vio-
late his conscience, and where the IA
yors of his prince were not likely to
be bartered for filthy lucre."
He was made confidant to the
prime minister, who entrusted him
with the education of his illegitimate
son and heir. This brought him a
title.
After some years when the duke lost
the kings favor, Gil Bias followed him
into retirement, and on his death was
remembered with a bequest of 10000
pistoles. He returned to his beauti-
f,,l octatn made second marriap G