10
The ADVENTURES of
BOOK IV.
CHAP. I.
Gil Bias being difgvfed at the irregularities of the ac - trcffcSi quits the fervice oj Arfenia , and goes into a more creditable family .
A RF.MNANT of honour and religion, which I did not fail to prefcivc amidft fuch corruption of morals, made me refolve not only to leave Ar- fenia, but alfo to break off all correfpondence with Laura, whom, however, I could not help loving, though I wasfenfible of her flagrant infidelity. Happy is he who can thus profit by thofe moments of reflexion that interrupt the plcafures which engrofs his attention! Early one morning, I bundled up my cloaths, and without clearing with Arfenia, -who was, indeed, little or nothing in my debt; or taking leave of my dear Laura, I quitted the houfc where I bad breathed nothing but the air of debauchery ; and I had no fooncr pei formed fuch a good aXion, than Jicaven rewarded me for it, by throwing me in the way of the ffeward of Don Matthias, my late maf- ler. Having faluted him, he knew me, and ffopt to enquire if I was in any fervice ; to which I anfwer- cd, that I had been about a minute or two out of place : for that after having lived about a month with Arfenia, whofe behaviour I did not like, I had left her of my own accord,, in order to preferve my innocence. The ffeward, as if he had been fcrupulouffy religious, approved of my delicacy, and told me, that fmee l was a young man of fuch honour, he would make it his bufirjefs to fettle me in an advantageous place. He pei formed his promife, and that very day introduced me into the fervice of Don Vincent de GnzijiaD, whofe manager was one of his acquaintance.
I could