Joseph Wilmot, or, The Memoirs of a Man-Servant — page 261: what you’re looking at

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

ees 248 JOSEPH WILMOT; OR, THE MEMOIRS OF A MAN-SERVANT. x certain spirit of haughtiness on my own part,{ Scarcely had this incident occurred, when another “T should assuredly avail myself of any means | appeared to be transpiring. A beautiful yatch, which circumstances might opportunely seem to | rigged as a cutter, and coming from the direction present, in order to effect my own aims,—yet in | of Leghorn, was sweeping along before the wind the presence of the alternatives which you “have | and about to run between the Athene and the placed before me, I can only say that preferring Apollo, as these vessels lay at a distance of about the fresh air of the deck to the close atmosphere | three hundred yards from each other,—when tha of my cabin, I accept the condition which leaves , English lieutenant in the galley was hailed by some me in the enjoyment of the former.” one who stood on the deck of that yacht. The Durazzo bowed with seeming coldness; and I | Englishman raised his hat with the most respectful retired completely to the stern of the vessel. In | politeness; and for a few minutes a running con- about five minutes the galley came alongside: the | versation was exchanged between the galley and English lieutenant ascended to the deck of the | the pleasure-vessel. The result appeared to be an Athene; and Captain Durazzo, attended by his | alteration in the course of the yacht: for instead own officers, went forward to receive him. The ; of continuing to stand out to sea, she tacked and lieutenant’s behaviour was most courteous; and I | made direct for the Athene. was therefore persuaded he entertained not the} I watched this proceeeding from my place at slightest suspicion of the character of that ship on | the stern of the corsair-vessel—while Durazzo whose deck he stood. That he likewise spoke a | with his second lieutenant and mate contemplated language which was intelligible to Durazzo, was | it froma little distance. It was as yet impossible evident from the fluent and facile manner in which | to distinguish the persons in the yacht, farther they at once began conversing together. The | than to perceive that a gentleman dressed in English officer looked about him on all sides: he black, and a lady with white furs on, were two of swept his glances along the deck—he bent his | the most conspicuous characters. Nearer and gaze upward amidst the web-like tracery of the | nearer came the yacht: I shifted my position in rigging—and I could judge from the manner in | order the better to survey its graceful advance ; which he addressed Durazzo, that he compli- | and this movement on my part brought me closer mented him upon the elegant as well as seaman-| to the spot where Durazzo was standing. He like appearance of his vessel. immediately joined me, and said, “ We are about The party advanced slowly, conversing the while, | to have fresh visitors. As for the English frigate towards the stern of the Athene; and now I learnt | there; the captain has sent to invite me ” that they were speaking in French. At this instant an ejaculation issued from my “But you have not as yet given me, Captain | lips—an ejaculation of such mingled surprise and Kanaris,” said the English lieutenant, ‘“‘an answer | joy that I could not possibly restrain it: for the to the invitation which I bear you from my com- | yacht had now drawn sufficiently near to enable mander, Captain Herbert of the Apollo. Your | me to recognise in the gentleman in black the company to dinner, and that of whomsoever of | tall handsome person of the Count of Livorno! your officers you may choose to bring with you, “Ah!” said Durazzo, “it is some one whom either to-day or to-morrow at five o’clock .! you know ?” “Tt must be for to-morrow,” replied Durazzo, “ Yes,” E at once replied: “it is the nephew of who, as I understood from the English officer’s | the Grand Duke of Tuscany——Ah! and that mode of address, had resumed for the time being | lady must be his bride Olivia !” his surname of Kanaris: “for to-day I have busi-| ‘‘ Mr. Wilmot,” said Durazzo, “if they come on ness that requires my attention.” board “Be it then for to-morrow,” rejoined the lieu-| ‘Oh, that I could speak to you for one instant tenant of the Apollo: “and I hope you will allow | alone!” I interrupted him as a sudden idea flashed this officer’’—alluding to the second lieutenant of | to my mind. the Athene—* to be included in the invitation. Iam | “It shall be so,” he quickly rejoined: then sorry that your first lieutenant should be disabled again glancing towards the yacht, he said, with a by an accident: otherwise Captain Herbert and | sudden resumption of a cold stern air, and speak- the ward-room officers of the Apollo would have | ing loud enough for his officers to overhear him, been glad to see him.” |“ Mr. Wilmot, I must thank you to descend to Durazzo made suitable acknowledgments—and | your own state-room for the present. I accept then said, “ Perhaps you willdo me the pleasure of | your parole that you will not issue thence until taking some refreshments in my own cabin.” you receive permission ; ; and I will therefore The party descended to below; and Ieasilycom- | spare you the ignominy of placing a guard over prehended how Durazzo could have no objection to | you.” display the elegance and the sumptuous richness of | I bowed, and descended to my cabin,—my heart the cabins to the lieutenant, now that the Athene | throbbing violently, for I felt persuaded that was passing as the Otho, and that she was likewise Durazzo was indeed friendly disposed towards me. represented as a ship belonging to the Royal Navy | My state-room was on the opposite side from that of Greece,—the circumstances being very different which the yacht had been approaching; and con- from what they were when the corsair passed as a sequently I could not, through the air-hole, per- trading-vessel in the harbour of Civita Vecchia. | ceive what was going on. About ten minutes They remained below for about half-an-hour—at elapsed; and at the expiration of that interval the expiration of which time the party ascended Constantine Durazzo made his appearance. again to the deck; hands were shaken—and the | “Now, Wilmot,” he said, “quick, quick with English officer descending into his galley, took his | | whatsoever you may have tocommunicate! But departure from the schooner, the terrible character | speak low—for Lanover is in his own state-room of which he evidently little suspected. | | adjuining.” COMmicaoolks (EO)