Joseph Wilmot, or, The Memoirs of a Man-Servant — page 247: what you’re looking at

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

a ee ee ee rere ee 234 JOSEPH WILMOT; OR, THE MEMOIRS OF A MAN-SERVANT. EE Le ee a a ee ere tions; and when all was settled, I boldly took my! far as it relates to Cosmo,” rejoined the pirates way?to the Portici Villa, hoping that everything would continue to glide on smoothly—but on the other hand, prepared for the worst. On my arrival I learnt that you and Cosmo were in private con- ference with the Judge; and I confess that it was with a beating heart I hastened up-stairs to Leo- nora. Her reception of me was loving and affec- tionate as usual. You speedily joined us in order to bid us farewell; and you then, with the gene- rous purpose of warning me against a supposed danger in respect to my visits to this vessel, made important revelations. I thus learnt that I my- self was still unsuspected, but that the charac- ter of the ship was known, and that schemes were in progress for the arrest of Lanover and myself. Then, as you remember, I was present in the dining-room when Signor Portici announced the expected arrival of an officer of the Tyrol, fur- nished with a personal description of myself. My mind was at once made up how to act. True to my compact with Lanover—or rather the one which Notaras had made on my behalf—I con- sidered mfself bound to frustrate your pro- ject of proceeding to Leghorn and warning Sir Matthew Heseltine. Hence your capture by my men—which was effected through the connivance of the postilion, into whose hand I thrust some pieces of gold while you were taking leave of Signor Portici, But I had another reason for making you my prisoner ; and this I must ex- plain hereafter. All the rest of my measures were promptly taken: Lanover received a warn- ing which brought him without delay last night on board the Athene—and a party of my men in- tercepted this morning the Austrian officer on the road to Civita Vecchia. In the forenoon of this day the bridal took place:—Signor Portici and my beloved Leonora believe at this moment that I am already some miles on that journey which I pre- texted. But here 1 am secure and free, on board my own gallant vessel! Ah, and I should observe that I was accompanied by another whose tempo- rary prisonage suits the new plans I have formed and the altered projects which I have in view. That man is Cosmo.” “ What!” I ejaculated, “is it possible? Cosmo a captive on board the Athene P” “Yes,” rejoined Durazzo: “the police-spy of Ostia, who made use of yourself as his tool, is a prisoner in the forepart of this vessel. But now you may wonder, Mr. Wilmot, why I have given you all these minute explanations? I will tell ou.” 4 “T need not ask,” I said, “whether Cosmo is well treated? JI think I know you well enouch vs “To be assured that I am incapable of inflict- ing unnecessary harshness or useless cruelty? I do not blame Cosmo,” continued the corsair-chief, le i chief. “Do you not acknowledge, Mr. Wilmot, that I have given you frank and candid explana- tions ?” “Your candour, Captain Durazzo, has cost you nothing,” I answered somewhat coldly: “for there was no longer the slightest necessity to maintain a mystery towards me.” “And you think Mr. Wilmot,” said Constan- tine, now himself adopting a certain air of haughty reserve, “that we can never be friends again? You are silent,” he added after a pause: “you do not answer me. You feel that you are in my power—you do not choose to say aught that you fear might irritate me towards you: while-on the other hand you will not compromise your own self-esteem and personal dignity by giving utter- ance to anything that is insincere. Can you not understand that I admire such a character as yours? or do you fancy that I am lost to every noble and elevating sentiment ?” “I observed just now,” was my response, “that you evidently possess many generous feelings. But ean you ask for my friendship at 8 moment when your vessel is proceeding towards a destination where your object is to carry out the neiarious— the diabolical views of such a wretch as Lanover ?” “T dare not fly away from my compact with that man,” answered Durazzo. “There are cer- tain immutable laws as well as fixed principles that constitute, so to speak, the very foundation of tho authority which I myself wield on board this schooner id “Tf it be a matter of a few hundred pounds,” I indignantly exclaimed, “let me at once give you a draft, or hand you a letter of credit 4 “Tf it were merely that maiter,”’ interrupted the young Greek, “I would cheerfully from my stock and have done with Lanover and his affairs for your sake, But the compact must be carried out! There is not a man now under my command who would not rebel against me if I placed it in the power of Lanover to proclaim that the pirate- chiefs word to him was broken. Therefore argue this point no farther; and rest satisfied with the assurance that no harm beyond a mere loss of liberty for a period, shall befal those in whom you are so deeply interested.” I remained silent for upwards of a minute,— reflecting painfully on all that Constantine Du- razzo had just said; and then I remarked, ‘‘ You were just now on the point of explaining where- fore you entered into such elaborate details to account for your past conduct ?”’ *T informed you, Mr. Wilmot,” proceeded the pirate-chief, “that I hope this present voyage will be my last. Ido not mean the mere cruise up to Legrhorn—but a six weeks’ or two months’ scouring of the Levant; so that I may be enabled to double tl LA own resourees fling the amount into the common “for having studied to ensnare myself and to cap- ture my vessel. It is his avocation to do these things, and accomplish what the world calls the law and justice, as it is mine to enact the part of free- booter on the seas. Nevertheless, Cosmo having fallen into my power, must submit to whatsoever | conditions I choose to impose—or he will have to meet the fate of a spy.” : “ And those conditions?” I asked. | “ We will discard that topic for the present—so. —O OE —— . a e or treble the resources I already possess. If for- tune thus far favour me, it is my purpose to abandon for ever a lawless life—to return to Italy—and to bear away my bride to some far- off clime, where we may thenceforth dwell in a peaceful and happy seclusion. That is my aim— that is my hope; and all the explanations I have given you, were intended to lead you to the com- prehension of this project which I have formed. Will you mar it?” CORNICLOOOLK me ec ree LE