Joseph Wilmot, or, The Memoirs of a Man-Servant — page 19: what you’re looking at

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6 JOSEPH WILMOT; OR, THE MEMOIRS OF A MAN-SERVANT. partially heightened flush upon her cheeks: but it was easy to perceive that it arose from indignation against the treacherous-minded Cresson, and not from the influence of fear. The young Marquis, who was listening to our low whispered discourse, now said, “For heaven’s sake, Eugenie, depart at once! » Not for worlds would I have such a fate befall you !” The young girl bent her looks searchingly upon her lover; and then she said, “I see, dearest Theobald, that your solicitude is indeed only on my account—and I thank you. If it had been otherwise, I should despise you. Dearest, dearest Theobald, you know not how proud of you I am this night!” The youth’s cheeks glowed with enthusiastic fervour at the compliment and the tender as- surance which flowed from the lips of her whom he loved so well;—and I gazed admiringly upon that enthusiastic as well as beautiful young couple. At length I said to Mademoiselle Delacour, “ How will you act ?” “Tt is useless to do anything,” she responded with the same calm intrepidity as before. “ Every one is marked: and whether we be arrested here to-night, or at our own homes on the morrow, it matters but little. Nevertheless, depart you with Theobald i “And leave you here?” said the Marquis. “ No—Eugenie—never, never! If you remain, I remain likewise.” He was rewarded by another look of tender ad- mirafion bent upon him by the sweet éyes of Eugenie; and at this moment we became aware of an unusual noise in the ante-chamber. The door was suddenly burst open: the other door— namely, the one leading upon the platform—was simultaneously dashed in; and a posse of soldiers with fixed bayonets, and gendarmes with drawn swords, thronged in from both entrances. I must confess that I was seized with a momen- tary alarm: but as the next instant I glanced towards Eugenie and the young Marquis, and beheld that tender pair of scarcely eighteen dis- playing a cool and noble intrepidity, I was smitten with a sudden sense of shame at my own weak- ness. All was now confusion; and some of the male members of the Secret Society made a des- perate resistance as the gendarmes endeavoured to eapture them. Wounds were inflicted—in three or four parts of the room there were fierce scuffles —but I was not left long enough to behold the re- sult: for amongst the very first to be surrounded and arrested, were the Marquis, Eugenie, and my- self. “ Offer no violence to this young lady,” said Theobald: “it is the only favour whieh the Mar- quis de Paulin eondescends to ask:’—and he spoke with a dignity which would have sat admira- bly upon a man of even double his age. “The Marquis de Paulin ?” echoed an officer who was in command of the detachment of military: and he looked amazed. *Yes—I am the Duke de Paulin’s son,” re- joined Theobald; “‘and I beg that any respect which this announcement might procure towards myself, may be transferred to this young lady, who is the niece of an eminent banker.” “Tf you will pledge your word of honour, : Monsieur le Marquis,” continued the officer, “ that ee ee A you will hold yourself in readiness to obey any summons on the part of the authorities, you may return honie. I take this responsibility upon my- self.” “Will you accord the same favour to Made. moiselle Delacour ?” asked Theobald. *‘T dare not, Monsieur le Marquis,” replied the officer, shaking his head regretfully. “Iam per- haps even stretching a point and ineurring a risk “T thank you for your courtesy,” interrupted the Marquis; “but I will share the same fate as that which is in store for Mademoiselle Dela- cour.” Rapid yet fervid was the glance of admiration and love which the young lady threw upon Theobald: the officer could not help survey- ing him also in an admiring mahner—then he bent a compassionating look on Eugenié—but the next instant he shook his head gloomily, and said, “TI must do my duty.” We were now all three conducted forth from the place; and on reaching the street, the Marquis inquired of the two soldiers in whose charge the officer had left us, to which prison we were to be consigned? The answer was, “To the Prefec- ture.” Theobald then requested that we might be per- mitted to proceed taither in a hackney-coach ; and this demand was complied with. A vehicle was soon obtained; and we three occupied the in- terior,—one of the soldiers riding on the box, and the other standing behind. During the transit both the Marquis and Eugenie expressed their deepest regret that in my endeavour to serve them, I should have become involved if so eruel a dilemma: but I bade them not render themselves uneasy on my aceount—while, as for in any way blaming them, it was altogether out of the ques- tion. On reaching the Prefecture, we were separated, and all three consigned to different apartments: but we shook hands warmly before our com: panionship was thus severed. —_— eee CHAPTER LXXVIII. THE CONCIERGERIE, It was not a badly furnished nor uncomfortable room in which I was incarcerated: bat it was well protected with bars and bolts—so that escape was impossible even if I had entertained an idea of at- tempting it. I now found myself in a very serious predicament—although I had no apprehension for my life, as E knew perfectly well that the gene- rosity of Hugenie and the Marquis would lead them to explain to the authorities how I had hap- pened to be present at that secret meeting. Be- sides, when I reflected upon it, I did not conceive that the offence could possibly amount to high treason, as no deliberations for any specifie pur- pose had taken place, but there were merely violent speeches delivered and listened to: I would not suffer myself to yield to despondencry—much less to despair: for I had continuously before my eyes the magnanimous example of Eugenie and the young Marquis. Nevertheless, I caught myself —_— Se IOoOkK ae ere (E()