Joseph Wilmot, or, The Memoirs of a Man-Servant — page 212: what you’re looking at

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

JOSEPH WILMOT; OR, THE M®&MOIRS OF A MAN-SERVANT. the Greek mariners, or the glance of mingled |“ Yes—it is but too true! hate, scorn, and defiance which shot from the eyes of the young officer. Nevertheless, perfectly calm and collected, I advanced towards the litter; and appearing as if unconscious of the ominous regards thus bent upon me, I said to Captain Notaras, “You are changing your quarters somewhat early after so severe an accident.” “ Too early do you think?” exclaimed the Cap- tain with a grim malignant smile: and then he gaye some hasty command to the men in his own native language. “T see that I am viewed with mistrust,” I said, proudly: “but you are doing me a rank in- justice. This assurance I give you, because what- ever you may be,” I added emphatically, “I would not have it supposed that I sought a miser- able subterfuge to go on board your ship fora sinister purpose. I repent the curiosity which alone prompted me to do so; and am equally sorry to think that I should have taxed in any manner the courtesy of your subordinate in commanc.” Captain Notaras gave another grim smile—but made no verbal response : his men and the young officer looked very much as if they would have liked to hurl me into the sea, or string me up to the yard-arm of their schooner : but disdaining any further attempt to vindicate myself, I walked away. I did not turn my head to fling another glance upon the litter or those who were convey- ing it down to the boat ; and in two or three minutes a pile of huge blocks of stone, employed for mending the harbour, became interposed be- tween us. Just as I was passing the further angle of that pile, I heard myself called by name ; and looking round, beheld Cosmo. He was evi- dently concealed in this spot ; and he at once said, “ How could you be so foolish, sir, as to go forth alone after the warning I gave you.” “Are you aware, then,’ I quickly demanded, “that I incurred any danger?” “Danger,” replied Cosmo, in his sedate quiet manner, “may come from more quarters than one, and may be directed against you by different individuals having different purposes to serve.” “Then you were not just now alluding,” I said, “to Mr. Lanover and his accomplices, whoever they may be ?” ) “No sir—not precisely at that moment.” “Perhaps you were alluding to these Greek mariners >?’ I observed inquiringly. “I was,” responded Cosmo. “But how could you possibly be aware “i did not think, sir, for a single moment,” he Interrupted me, “that you incurred any danger whon you visited their ship yesterday: or else I should not have taken you on board. But to-day it is different !” “And why is it different to-day P” I demanded, astonished and impatient at the ambiguity of the man’s speech, “ Because yesterday, sir,” rejoined Cosmo, “ the Greeks took you only for a mere visitor impelled by curiosity: whereas to-day they take you— pardon the plainness of my speech—for a spy.” “A spy!’ I ejaculated, recoiling in disgust from the term, although its announcement only corresponded with the idea that had previously been passing in my mind—I mean in respect to the opinion which the Greeks had formed of me. »> Ss en ene ee 199 How do you know it ?” “What is your opinion now, sir, of that ship ?” asked Cosmo, as if evading the question which I had just put: and he led me a little way forward, so that the schooner was again brought within the range of our vision. “1 think,” I answered, though somewhat hesi- tatingly—“ I think that judging from all I beheld yesterday, and from the suspicious conduct of these men just now—I think, I say, that yon schooner is a pirate,” “ And I know it,” was Cosmo’s quiet response. I could not help trembling for a moment at the risk I had run in going aboard the vessel on the previous day: and then, as something flashed in unto my recollection, I exclaimed in a tone of indignant reproach, “ And you knew it all along ?” **T have suspected it for along tine—I mean for some weeks,” replied Cosmo: “but i only knew it for a certainty yesterday.” “Yes—and now your conduct is intelligible enough !” I exclaimed, still more angrily and in- dignantly reproachful than before. “You told me on Friday night, when you first introduced your- self to me, that my services might be rendered available in advancing some object you had in view and this is the object! You induced me to visit the schooner in order that you might accom- pany me—you bade me promise fruits and flowers to her invalid captain on shore, in order that you might become the bearer of them . “All this is perfectly true, Mr. Wilmot,’ an- swered Cosmo, perfectly unruffled: “ and I scarcely think you can stretch your ideas of honour to such an extraordinary degree of punctiliousness, as to regret any slight assistance you may have ren- dered towards the unmasking of the true character of that vessel.” “The mischief is done, and cannot be undone,” I answered, still with a certain degree of vexation: “but I do not like being led to play such a part even against pirates. How came they to suspect you—or rather ws, as I suppose I ought to say?” “In the first place,’ answered Cosmo, “they liked as little as could be, our visit to the ship yes- terday, as indeed youcould have had no difficulty in observing. Then, I suppose, the circumstance of my taking the little presents to Notaras last night “¢ “ And perhaps the way in which you may have questioned him,” I exclaimed; “added to the cir- cumstance that men whose proceedings are lawless, and who are conscious of wrong, are eyer keenly alive to the merest trifle that appears suspi- cious + “No doubt, sir,” answered Cosmo. “ But you must not be offended with me for what I have done. I saw enough of your disposition the first moment we met, to be convinced that you would not voluntarily lend yourself to succour my pro- ject: pardon me therefore for adding that I was resolved to make use of you in spite of yourself. I, as an Italian, could not have obtained admission on board the ship if I had gone thither alone : but you, as an Englishman travelling for your amusement, obtained that admission—and I, as your valet, accompanied you. Then too, accident had made you acquainted with Notaras ; and here again I procured that access through your agency ElO@QO €5) (CO