Joseph Wilmot, or, The Memoirs of a Man-Servant — page 255: what you’re looking at

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

242 Rie head sank upon my breast: I heard myself called by name—but had not the heart nor courage nor curiosity to look up. A second time was my name spoken; and then, as I slowly raised my eyes, I beheld Durazzo standing before me. “Mr. Wilmot,” he said in a grave tone, “I know that your sympathies were with the Austrian frigate—and naturally so. Think not therefore for a single moment that I am capable of exulting over you, or that I can ask you to share in the feeling of triumph which inspires every one else on board the Athene. I should not even now in- trude upon your reverie, were it not that I have a communication to make.” “A communication?” I said, with all the list- lessness of apathy: for I felt so numbed and stu- pefied that it seemed as if every connecting link between myself and the affairs of the world, had been suddenly severed. “Yes—a communication,” repeated Durazzo, “and which I am afraid will still farther afflict you. But it is» better you should hear it at once ? “Still farther afflict me?” I ejaculated, with a suddenly reviving sense of interest. “ What do you mean P” “‘T mean,” was the youme Greek’s response, “that Cosmo has ceased to exist !” “What!” I exclaimed, starting up from my seat with the blood boiling in my veins: “have your men in the flush of victory a “Silence, sir!” ejaculated Durazzo, in the sternest tone and with the haughtiest air of in- dignation. “If any one else had ventured to insinuate But no matter !”—~and thus checking himself, he went on to obserye solemnly and gravely, “Cosmo was killed by a splinter caused by a shot which penetrated the fore-cabin, where he was confined.” “Cosmo dead !” I murmured, shocked at the intelligence ; then instantaneously recollecting the imputation I had thrown out, I said, “ Pardon me, Captain Durazzo—I confess that I was wrong fe “Say not another word upon the subject !” in- terrupted the young Greek, with frank generosity. “JT can make every allowance for your feelings—and you see that I am doing so,” I descended to my state-room, where I shut my- self in to reflect in mournfulness upon everything that had occurred, CHAPTER CXXVIII. THE YOUNG PAGE. Ar one o’clock the youthful page brought me in my luncheon ; and I saw that he regarded me in a peculiar manner, as if with a deep compassion- ating interest, and likewise as if he were desirous to speak to me, but did not like to initiate a con- versation, I was therefore determined to break the ice in this respect. de es you alarmed,” I inquired in a gentle | voice, “at the conflict which took place just now P” “ Oh, no—not alarmed !” ejaculated the youth, | his dark eyes flashing with a sudden fire. “I | would have borne my part in it—but the captain a eee ee JOSEPH WILMOT; OR, THE MEMOIRS OF A MAN-SERVANT. says 1 am too young. time x “ But is it possible,” I asked, “that your mind is already settled upon leading the existence of a pirate P” “Wherefore not ?” demanded the youth quickly. “Tt is a life of heroism—a life of daring and of glory; and one such deed as that which “Durazzo has this forenoon accomplished, is sufficient to hand down his name to posterity !” “Yes!” I said, in a tone of grave remonstrance : “but is not the renown a tarnished one? is it not an ignoble glory? and are you not setting up a false idol for your worship ?” “In your eyes it may seem so,” responded the youthful page; “ but in mine it isdifferent. Oh, in my estimation the existence of Durazzo is an envi- able one!—to be the commander of this beautiful vessel—to stand upon her deck with the conscious- ness of the supreme authority which he exercises— to issue his mandates with the certainty that they will be obeyed—to know likewise that his name is terrible, and that the deed which he has this day accomplished will give him a formidable renown so soon as he may think fit to publish it to the world, —all this constitutes an existence that is enviable indeed !” The youthful figure dilated before me, as the naturally soft musical voice thrilled with the exul- tation of the heart’s feelings: his eyes flashed still brighter fires—and while I pitied and was even shocked, yet I could not help admiring at the same time. Methought, too, that if this were a speci- men of the materials which lay in reserve to fill up gaps amongst the corsair-crew, it was indeed no wonder that the Athene was so formidable or that such feats should be performed as the one which I had within the last few hours witnessed. *T wish to speak to you, sir,’ continued the youthful page after a pause, “ for the purpose of expressing my thanks for your considerate kind- ness é “In what respect ?” I demanded with astonish- ment. “Captain Durazzo failed not to inform me,” continued the picturesquely attired young Greek, “that even amidst the excitement of your own feelings and affairs this morning, you bestowed a thought upon me, and stipulated that if a parti- cular eventuality occurred I was to accompany you in the boat. for this, sir, accept my sincerest thanks. Though I be imbued with sentiments utterly repugnant to your sympathies in many respects, yet [ am not unsusceptible of the feeling of gratitude,” “You have known Durazzo,” I said, “ for a long time P” “ Yes—I was at school with him,’ responded the youth. “ He is a few years older than myself; and he protected me at the seminary against the Besides, it is not the first ‘ill-treatment which the elder lads were wont to display towards the younger. From the very first I conceived a brother’s attachment for Constantine. At school he was not like other boys: he never used his strength to tyrannize over the weak—-but he protected them. Endowed with a rare intelli- gence, he exulted not in his proficiency—but took a pleasure in assisting the laggard mind to master difficult lessons. His ideas were the noblest and the loftiest; and yet blended therewith was ever a CoOmicaoolks (C@)