Joseph Wilmot, or, The Memoirs of a Man-Servant — page 119: what you’re looking at

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

106 JOSEPH WILMOT; OR, THE MEMOIRS OF A MAN-SERVANT. before Angelo had time and opportunity to act,— all would be lost for me! In a word, I saw that there were a thousand strong chances against me —but yet there was one for me; and even though this one was no brighter than the feeble and almost imperceptible glimmering of the moon- beams above, yet was it in the power of providence to make it expand into a light as luminous as the golden flood which the sun at noon-day pours upon the hemisphere. Time passed—the dawn was beginning to peep’ in through the grating overhead—and hitherto I had remained ‘leaning against the massive door: but now feeling utterly exhausted, I could no longer resist the influence of weariness—and I seated myself on the cold pavement. As I did so, it struck me that a particular stone on which my right hand rested as I thus sate down, moved somewhat to the pressure. I thought that it must be mere fancy; and’ yet for curiosity’ s sake I tried. again. Yes—it was no delusion: the flag-stone did move: it was perceptibly loose in its setting. To a captive under such circumstances, everything is of moment: the slightest ‘incident flashing in unto the comprehension, is fraught with a “mo: , mentary hope of discovering the means of escape. Connected with old towers—the remnants of feudal fortalices of other times—there are ever thoughts and visions of strangely conttived trap-doors and secret staircases ; and these ideas failed not to ore sent themselves to my imagination now. Again I felt the stone—and more carefully than before. I slowly passed my finger all round its edge to ascertain its dimensions; and | found it to be about @ foot and a half wide and two feet Jong. I could’ unmistakably feel it move—but ‘with ‘a very gentle oscillation. T felt all the other’ stones forming thé ‘payement-floor; and they were as firmly set as if they constituted but one immense solid mass. feeble to aid me in this investigation: I’ was therefore resolved to pursue it to the utmost of my ability in the gloom which enveloped the place. I had a knife in my pocket: for the banditti had not rifled my person when making me their pri- soner either in Florence or at Mr. Dorchester’s cave: that plundering process had no doubt been so far a secondary consideration to the supreme one of vengeance that they were most probably re- serving it until perhaps the last moment. Taking out my knife, I endeavoured to raise the stone; and in about ten minutes succeeded in lifting it from its setting. The reader may possibly be enabled to imagine the keen, the poignant, the breathless suspense with which I thrust my hand into the space beneath where the stone had been. But that hand of mine encountered the head of no secret staircase—touched no curiously-contrived spring opening any other trap-door: all that it grasped was a bundle of papers in a very narrow space beneath where the stone had been; and this space I presently ascertained by the touch to be the limit of a small tin-box sunk in the mortar under the stone. At first there was a feeling of disappointment ; but the next instant a strange thought electrified me. These papers, evidently concealed with so much care,—what could they be? Was it possible that they were the State-documents which Marco Uberti had purloined from the ducal archives at The ‘light from above was much too. Florence, and which constituted the talisman of his safety? Yes—I felt that the conjecture was most probably the true one: but of what use was that important correspondence to me? Only in case of an escape from the tower, were it worth while to devote another thought to the discovery I had made. I would not conceal them about my person—I would not even take possession of them ; for I said to myself, “If by any possible accident the banditti should relent, and if they should be moved to spare my life, their better feelings would be instantaneously changed into a rancour more fierce and terrible than ever, were these papers found upon me.” I therefore consigned them to the tin-box, and dropped the stone back into its setting. Scarcely had I done this, when I heard the bolts of the door being gently drawn back: then the key was applied to the lock—it turned—and the door opened. “Hush, my young friend—it is 1!” said the well- known voice of Angelo Volterra. “ Oh! thank God!” I ejaculated, with a gush of joy in my heart. Bis Hush, hush! Give not way to an excitement that may prove dangerous!” responded Vol- terra. “© Yet let me again thank God!” I murmured: for Angelo’s presence seemed the herald of hope. He eame without a light— ‘but our hands were immediately ‘joined :“ and’ the grateful pressure which mine bestowed upon his, tonveyed to him all I felt for whatsoever he might be attempting or effecting in my behalf. 4 Pardon my selfishness,’ he said in a hasty manner: “but only one word—one ¥ word ! What of Olivia ?” “She believes you honourable,” I answered ; “and the Tetter’ you addressed’ to me at Dicomano, is 10 ‘her possession.’ 7 oe * Now it was my turn to receive an assurance of heartfelt g¥atitude conyéyed by the warm pressure of the hand; and Volterra murmured in a voice full of éihotion; “Millions of thanks, Joseph! Oh, I will save you—or I will perish in the ettempt !? “Is there really hope ?? I asked—and the reader may suppose with how much breathless eagerness ! ““Yes—but do not excite yourself-—— “Oh! tell me, tell me—is there indeed hope P” “Yes—there is every hope,’ he responded. “Listen for a few moments. When that villain Dorebester came to announce that you were in safe custody at his cave, Marco Uberti was already far gone with wine. My first thought was to gallop away and to deliver you from that cave: but I feared to be suspected for in that case, Joseph,” added Volterra, with solemn impressive- ness, “JI should have all in a moment seen’ the ruin of an object which is dearer to me than even my love for Olivia—dearer than even the bond of friendship which links me unto you! I was there- fore compelled to act with caution. I knew that if Uberti continued even only just able to breathe a few words collectedly, your life when you were brought before him, would not be worth an instant’s pur- chase. I therfore resolved to ply him well with liquor. I played a part which, God knows, I hate and detest. But, Ob! even that was comparatively 93 LE LL ALL LEC LL LL LL LLL CL LL LE LL A LE LL A LL LLL LLL LLL LLL LLL! LLL LLL LOL LLL LL LT DOOKS co AA