Joseph Wilmot, or, The Memoirs of a Man-Servant — page 264: what you’re looking at

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JOSEPH WILMOT; OR, THH MEMOIRS OF A MAN-SERVANT. merely using the glass from a motive of curiosity, I examined the smaller vessel by its aid. I could distinctly perceive two gentlemen and two ladies seated in the stern-sheets of the little cutter :— now I recognised Sir Matthew—and now I beheld the countenance of Annabel also! Were it not that [ was exercising the strongest control over my feelings, an ejaculation would have burst from my lips, as the thought struck me that those whom I had laboured so hard to save, were now actually rushing into the lion’s mouth, and that Durazzo himself would have no power to save them if they once set foot on the deck of his vessel! Oh! would the Count of Livorno perceive them ere it was yet toolate? That he knew them by sight, I: could hardly hope: for when they were imprisoned at Marco Uberti’s tower, I believed, to the best of my knowledge, that he had not set eyes upon them. But might he not now discern the features of the villain Dorchester, whom he did know and whom he had seen?—or was that cunning indiyidual’s disguise too deep to be thus penetrated, especialiy at such a distanceP Yet again, if the Count of Livorno should observe that the small craft was making direct for the schooner, might he not be smitten with a suspicion, if he had already perused my note, that the danger therein alluded to lay somewhere in that quarter? But on the other hand, how could he suspect it? how could he possibly fathom the meaning of the peril so hastily and dimly glanced at in my note? All these conflicting thoughts swept ‘through my brain in the space of a few moments,—although it 251 pirate-chief. “I have fulfilled my compact: I have brought the Athene hither: but it was for you to lure, through the means of your agent, those persons into my power. If the vessels-of- war were not there, the cutter should be speedily captured: but you cannot ask me to achieve im- possibilities, or to incur a peril which none but a madman would encounter.” Lanover turned away from the pirate-chief; and at the same instant I averted my countenance. IL looked through the telescope again; and I per- ceived a conference going on between those in the yacht and those in the cutter. More than ever did I feel that Sir Matthew and the ladies were now safe. A sidelong glance flung towards Lan- over, showed me that his looks were replete with the anxiety of suspense; and I could full easily comprehend what was passing in his mind. It was a matter of the utmost moment to him whether the cutter should continue its way to the Athene, or whether it put back into Leghorn. “ But if they do come on board,” he suddenly demanded of Captain Durazzo, “you will keep them P” “Most assuredly,” answered the young corsair. ‘A few minutes would suffice to spread our sails—the wind has changed—it is favourable for us—and:we would glide quickly away. Those men- of-war yonder would fancy it was merely a little cruise that we were taking; and when once be- yond gun-shot range, they might think anything else they liked. Now, Mr. Lanover, are you satis- fied that I am prepared to do everything in all has occupied several minutes to record them here. | fairness? and will you, as a reasonable man, com- Meanwhile I kept my eyes riveted upon the two vessels; and, Oh! what a thrill of anxious hope | | again turned to look at the two vessels. vibrated in my heart, as I perceived the course of the Count’s yacht now altering almost imme- diately after it had passed the little cutter con- taining those in whom I was so deeply interested, The cutter itself, doubtless on being hailed by those on board the yacht, altered its own course ; and then it lay to. A few instants more brought the vessels together; and with an inward voice that was full of exultation, I said to myself, * They are saved !” “But what will you do if they turn back?” were the excited words ‘which suddenly fell upon my ear; and I recognised the harsh jarring voice of Mr. Lanover. I glanced around: he was appealing energetically to Captain Durazzo; and his back was towards me, so that he observed not that I was a listener and a looker-on. | “What will I do?” said Durazzo coolly: but methought he spoke in a voice somewhat louder than was requisite for the mere behoof of Mr. Lanovyer alone, and that therefore he was inten- tionally conveying his words to wy ears. do not think it possible that I can send out a boat to seize upon the persons in that entter, when prehend that I cannot achieve impossibilities P” “Yes, yes!” ejaculated Lanover: and then he At that very instant the cutter was putting about; and keeping in the vicinage of the Count of Livorno’s yacht, it was evidently taking its way back to Leghorn. Annabel and her relatives were saved ! IT could not venture now to look towards Lan- over again: I felt that if I did, he would perceive 'such a glow of animation upon my countenance, he might suspect that the Count of Livorno’s visit to the Athene had not passed without some communication between his lordship and myself. “They have escaped us! they have escaped us!” ejaculated Lanover, in a tone of the bitterest vexation: and then, as I did venture to glance around at the instant, I perceived him whispering to Durazzo. “No, sir—it was impossible!” answered the pirate-chief aloud. “I myself consigned him to his state-room the whole time.” I knew full well that this response regarded my- “You | self, and that Lanover had put a query to Durazzo in respect to me. “Perhaps,” continued the humpback, still ad- those on board the ships-of-war would perceive | dressing himsclf to the pirate-chief, “the Count the outrage? We are lying within the range of | and Countess of Livorno may have recognised Sir their guns, Mr. Lanover; and though the Athene beat the Tyrol, lam not mad enough to risk my vessel and my crew in the presence of those two frigates and that sloop.” “Then what is to be done?” demanded Lan- over petulantly. Matthew and the ladies—and they have gone back together for the exchange of courtesies at leg- horn. To-morrow, therefore, Dorchester may suc- ceed ——But, Ah! if Dorchester himself be found out !” “Ts there any chance of that?” inquired Du- “That is your business, sir,’ answered the | razzo: “for if so, Mr. Lanover, it will behove mo EONOOLK<S (C(O)