Joseph Wilmot, or, The Memoirs of a Man-Servant — page 104: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

JOSEPH WILMOT; OR, THE MEMOTRS OF A MAN-SERVANT. loped away from the front of the hotel. Such was the velocity of his flight that in a few mo- ments the quick clattering of the hoofs upon the stones ceased to be audible. “T tell you, my dear sir,’ vociferated the irritable English gentleman—and he gesticulated violently too,—* that this is one of the banditti. I saw him at the tower—I cannot be mistaken he is a person too remarkable, even if seen only for an instant, not to be recognised again. Help, help! why don’t they raise a hue and ery ?” Numbers of persons came rushing forth from the hotel—others stopped in the street—and the intelligence spread like wildfire that one of Marco Uberti’s band had just been recognised, but that he fled precipitately. The excitement was im- mense : but, as if speedily appeared, there was no inclination on the part of any persons who col- lected on the spot, to take horse and pursue the fugitive. The town was a very small one, and had but two or three police officials, who were not to be found when they were wanted; and thus there was no pursuit at all. Captain Raymond walked aside with the iras- cible Englishman ; and they conversed together for nearly half-an-hour. During this interval I was agitated with the most painful thoughts: I felt assured that I should be questioned by Captain Raymond ; and what could I say? I had pledged myself to Volterra to keep his secret on condition that he performed that part of the compact which I myself had proposed in reference to Miss Sack- ville ; and moreover, I was bound by every tie of gratitude to shield and spare him—for I owed him my liberation on the first occasion of my pre- scence in the bandits’ stronghold, and my life on the last. Besides, I had the deep conviction, from the circumstances which had oecurred, as well as from the expressions which had fallen from his own lips, that Volterra was not himself a bandit, though he consorted with those outlaws. Yes—this was my conviction, notwithstanding the deep mystery which hung around him. But, on the other hand, how could I undertake his defence —how could I say a word in his vindication P—for if I told all I knew, and if I confessed that it was through his*agency Miss Sackville and myself escaped in the first instance and my life was saved in the second,—the tidings would inevitably obtain immense publicity—they would reach the ears of Marco Uberti and his band—and the generous- hearted Angelo Volterra would fall a victim to their rage. All these reflections agitated and distressed me most cruelly during the half-hour that Captain Raymond and the irascible gentleman were walk- ing apart together. JI had no doubt that my master was gleaning every particular in respect to that gentleman’s captivity at the banditti’s stronghold, and that he was assuring himself by all possible means that there was no mistake as to the identity of Angelo Volterra with the per- sonage whom he had seen amongst the outlaws in that place. At length their discourse ended ; and the Captain, accosting me, said, “ Joseph, I wish to speak to you.” He led the way to his bed-chamber; and clos- ing the door, he said to me in a firm, decisive voice, “ You must tell me whether you also saw Signor Volterra at the banditti’s tower ?” 91 I could not look him full in the face and give utterance to a falsehqod. I felt that such an un- truth would be a most wilful one, and very dif- ferent under all circumstances from that bold denial which I had given to the banditti in respect to whether I had a companion with me at the moment previous to my capture. I therefore thought—and the idea struck me all in an instant —that I had better trust entirely to the Captain’s generosity; and I said, “I will reveal certain things if you promise me not to publish them to the world.” For a moment Captain Raymond’s countenance flushed with indignation at the idea of conditions being imposed upon him by his own domestic: but the next instant that glow of haughty anger passed away; and he said, “If you mean that I am to keep the seal of completest silence upon my lips, I will give no pledge of the kind: but if you mean that lam only to use guardedly and cautiously whatsoever you may reveal to me, I cannot hesitate to yield to your stipulation. Now, understand me! It has come to my knowledge that Miss Olivia Sackville has bestowed her affec- tions upon this Angelo Volterra: I am a friend of her parents—but even if I were not, do you think - that I would suffer any young lady under such circumstances to remain in ignorance of the cha- racter of him to whom her heart is given? Tell me the truth, Joseph: —it was Volterra who effected her release through your agency? and it was Volterra who assisted you in your own subse- quent enterprise P” “1 cannot deny it—no, I cannot!” I answered. * And now I appeal to your generosity on behalf of that man who saved Miss Sackville from the horrible fate that was in store for her—that of becoming a vile outlaw’s bride !”’ “Yes—you shall not appeal in vain,” answered Captain Raymond. “TI think I comprehend your motives. Were all this known, Volterra’s life would be sacrificed to the rage of his comrades ?” “That is my motive, sir,’ I rejoined. “But you should not call them comrades: for I will stake my existence that Angelo Volterra is no bandit !” . “You are of a romantic disposition, Joseph,” said the Captain, with a slight smile; “and you generously put faith in whatsoever florid and plausible representations the fellow has made to you. But I,” continued Raymond, resuming the gravity of his demeanour, “am a man of the world, and not to be similarly deluded. Indeed, without meaning to hurt your feelings, I must say that I should be insulting my own common sense, if I were to fancy for a moment that one who dwells with banditti is not a bandit himself. Ah! and perhaps it was he who gave such information to Marco and his horde which enabled him to at- tack our carriages when we were crossing the Apennines P—perhaps he intended that Miss Sack- ville should be carried off in order that he might have the credit of liberating her ?” You forget, sir,” I answered, “ that he kept al- together in the back ground—that he used me as the instrument of that liberation—and that up to this very moment Miss Sackville is in ignorance of who the friendly bandit—as I chose at the time to deseribe him—actually was.” “True!” said the Captain. ‘“ However, he ig ee ere et ee — ee ee ee eee eee OOO) Cc (CO) iin