Joseph Wilmot, or, The Memoirs of a Man-Servant — page 124: what you’re looking at

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

JOSEPH WILMOT ; OR, THE MEMOIRS OF A MAN-SERVANT., 111 should have cleared it up in a moment, but was} AsT proceeded to the hotel, I could scarcely be- compelled to have recourse to your kind interven- | lieve that within a few short hours so many thrill- tion through the medium of that letter which I| ing and astounding incidents had occurred : the addressed to you at Dicomano. But now, thank | space seemed infinitely too limited to encompass heaven, I stand on the very threshold of success ; | such a variety of transactions. Yet it was only and when everything is explained, I believe with- | since the preceding evening that I had been absent out vanity that I shall experience the admiration | from Florence; and now that I was threading those and the approval of all within whose knowledge | streets again, it actually appeared as if [ had my romantic tale may come. In a few hours,| merely been hurried through the shifting phases Joseph, you will know everything ; and then you| of a wild and fariciful dream. TI had read in will indeed rejoice that you placed confidence in | oriental tales of persons being taken up in their my integrity, and that you lent me your generous | beds at night by good or evil genii—transported succour when my reputation was on the verge of }to some spot thousands of miles off—hurried ruin in the eyes of Lord Ringwold’s daughter.” | through a rapid series of adventures—carried back As the conversation reached this point, the|to their own homes—and left to awake in the chaise entered a small town where we were to | morning to marvel whether it were all a vision, or change horses: for Volterra had ordered the driver | whether it had positively occurred. So it now to take a more direct road to Florence than that | seemed with me. My capture by the banditti— by Pistoja—the latter being only preferred in | my journey into the Apennines—my escape from general as being the better one of the two. In | Phiippo—my adventure with Mr. Dorchester order to avoid excitement in the town, and equally | in his cave—my removal to the tower—my im- to evade the necessity of giving explanations, it, murement there—my discovery of the papers— was determined to keep it secret that Marco! my emancipation by Volterra’s aid—the circum- Uberti was a prisoner in the chaise; and the | stances of our escape—the accident which threw driver being bribed with gold, faithfully held his|the bandit-chief into our hands— our journey peace upon the subject. Our journey was re-|to Florence—and my safe arrival here,— it sumed ; and it was yet early in the forenoon when| did indeed appear to be nothing but a wild we entered the vale of Arno, in the midst of which} romantic dream! The whole series of adven- stands the beautiful city of Florence. tures have taken entire chapters to narrate “T shall put you down at the entrance of the! them—life and death had hung in the balance— capital,” said Volterra; “ and you will forgive me if| and yet but comparatively a few hours sufliced I suggest this arrangement. Think not, however, } for the enacting of all this ! that it is my purpose selfiskly to rob you of your due | On reaching the hotel, the first person whom I share of the honour of this villain’s capture. You | met was Lord Ringwold’s valet, and he said, with will see, on the contrary, that my behaviour | a sly laugh, “You are anice young fellow, Joseph, towards you will be in every respect that of a sin-| to remain out all night in this dissipated way, and cere friend.” return here at such an hour. It is lucky for you “ Act according to your own discretion, signor,” | that you have got a master who instead of being I replied : “for Tam confident that you are inspired | angry, is very uneasy—and instead ‘of attributing by the best possible motives.” ~ | _ | your absence to a little piece of rakishness, pro- “Thanks for this renewed proof of your trust- | claims his apprehension that some evil has befallen fulness in me,” responded Volterra. “ You will| you.” ee return to the hotel: but I beg of you that my} “ Let me at once assure you,’ I said, “ that name may not be in any way mentioned—that no | you are altogether wrong in jumping to a conclu- allusion raay be made tome. I repeat that in the | sion so little creditable to my character ; and when course of a few hours you will know everything !”| you come to know all, you will be surprised “Say no more, signor,” I interrupted him ; | enough.” “your will shall be my law. And yet,’ Icon-| “Then what has happened?” asked the valet, tinued, as a thought struck me, “I shall have to | all his curiosity excited. explain how I was carried off by the banditti; and| “TI cannot stay to tell you now,” I quickly re- if Miss Sackville should privately inquire whether | sponded. “You say that my master is uneasy— I have seen you ¥ , and I must speed to him.” “Tell her yes, Joseph! Say what you think| Jaccordingly hurried up the stairs; and on the fit,” replied Angelo: “but one thing you must not | landing I met Bessy, Miss Olivia’s maid—who with mention—and this is that I have accompanied you|a cold look observed, “I am really astonished, to Florence. I have my own reasons for keeping | Joseph, at your conduct. I gave you credit for my presence a secret for a few hours; and after! being a steady, well-behaved young man. And all you have said, I know that you will not seek | Miss Sackville too, who held the same opinion, is to penetrate them.” very much grieved = The chaise had now entered the city ; and Vol- “Then my master,” I exclaimed, “is the only terra commanded the driver to stop. I alighted; | one who does not prejudge me harshly !” and Angelo shook me by the hand, saying,“ Fare-| “There! I’m glad you have said that!” rejoined well for the present, my gallant young friend!” | Bessy, smiling. “I only made the observation Marco Uberti had opened his eyes and looked | and looked cool in order to draw you out at once; from the window when the vehicle thus stopped:| and I can tell you that Miss Sackville has all the but he threw himself back in the corner again with} morning expressed her conviction that some acci« a kind of surly listlessness—and I walked away.| dent had befallen you. She is not ungrateful, The driver received some further instruction from | Joseph—and L can assure you that she has been Volterra; and the chaise rolled onward in another, considerably agitated on your account.” direction from that which I was taking, “Tam glad,” I said, my countenance brighten. EGOMIGDOO S co