Joseph Wilmot, or, The Memoirs of a Man-Servant — page 275: what you’re looking at

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

--—- - 262 “What is itP’ exclaimed Durazzo: “have you hurt vourself, my dear friend ?” “Not in the faintest degree,” I answered. “ But I am very much mistaken if a portion of the mys- tery is not already solved.” ¥ showed Durazzo what I meant. The iron rod which I had drawn out passed completely through the marble masonry by means of a hole drilled lengthways for the purpose: the iron knob which I had first succeeded in unscrewing, kept the rod tight; and the uniform contrivance of four of these knobs was naturally calculated to prevent suspicion that they were intended for any other purpose than that of ornament. We had got thus far: and now we addressed ourselves to the task of ascertaining to what results the removal of the iron rod would lead. We again attempted to raise the flat slab covering the struc- ture—biut all in vain. “ Now, Durazzo,” I said, “let us see if the front of this marble coffer, tomb, or whatever it may be, will move: for that the rod is intended as a fasten- ing I am well conceived.” Constantine assisted me in the way that I had just directed ; and behold! the solid slab of marble, forming what may be termed the perpendicular front of the coffer, yielded to our hands and fell forward with a heavy sound on the damp slimy floor of the cavern. An ejaculation of joy burst from the lips of Durazzo; and I must confess that my own feelings were fraught with a wild and indescribable suspense. It was indeed natural that I should be impressed with the conviction that a discovery of | the highest importance was at hand; and forafew instants I experienced a dizziness of the brain— a vertigo that made me stagger. As for my com- panion, the ejaculation which had burst from his lips bore ample testimony to the intoxicating thrill of hope that had suddenly glowed through his en- tire frame. “See what the contents are, my dear Wilmot !” he exclaimed. “I was lately a chief elsewhere— but you are the chief of this exploring enterprise ; and you have a right to be the first to ascertain its results !” I introduced my hand into the marble coffer: my touch encountered a small pile of objects which sent another thrill of strangest, wildest sensations through me. TI lifted one: its weight, its form, its touch confirmed my hope—so that for a few instants I felt as if intoxicated to such a degree that I could not give utterance to a syllable. Durazzo,” I at length said, rising up from my crouching posture, “do not excite yourself: but— but-—you have no reason to regret the loss of the Athene, so far as the ship itself is coneerned—for you will now be rich—ten thousand times nicher than in your wildest dreams you ever could have anticipated “Oh, it is not for myself!—it is for my Leonora’s sake!”—and the young Greck, throw- ing himself into my arms, wept upon my shoulder. _-~—-—ooOo_— CHAPTER CXXXII. THE CASTLE OF MONTE D’ORO. Ne eee ee ee i ee eS Ra I it A ll i eee ee me ee ee ee eee JOSEPH WILMOT; OR, THE MEMOIRS OF A MAN-SERVANT. hended that through the upper part of the front an iron bar passed Jengthways from end to end. The front itself, consisting of a single marble slab, was made to open downward, by means of massive iron hinges at the bottom. From the top part of the inner side of this moveable slab, three stout pieces of iron projected. These irons had holes through them ; and thus when the slab was closed, the iron rod being thrust through those holes and fastened with the knob that screwed on at the other end, constituted a bolt as strong as it was mysteriously contrived. I need scarcely again re- peat that the fact of each extremity of the coffer displaying two knobs in corresponding positions, and thus giving them the appearance of mere ornaments arranged with a due regard to uni- formity—was full well calculated to avert the suspicion that any secret belonged to either of these knobs. | The coffer was found to contain a quantity of bars of silver, with a much smaller proportion of bars of the more precious metal. There were also four jars full of gold and silver coins; and there was a fifth—a smaller jar—-containing several articles of jewellery, such as gold chains, crosses, rings set with diamonds, and other valuables of exquisite workmanship, as they subsequently proved to be. The youthful page, who all this while had been watching near the mouth of the subterranean, was now made acquainted with the important discovery which had rewarded our ex- ploring enterprise; and his joy knew no bounds. It was not however a selfish joy—nor because he hoped to share in the fruits of the discovery: but it was a sincere and disinterested joy on Durazzo’s account and on my own. On Durazzo’s account —not because the page knew of his love for Leonora or his union with her—but because of the Athene being lost and the apparently hopeless condition in which it had left him. On my ac- count—because the young page had conceived the greatest friendship towards me. Wild indeed was his delight : but that of Constantine Durazzo was almost equal to it. As for myself, I experienced a profound happiness—an almost illimitable satis- faction—but not on my own account; it was en- tirely on that of the two Greeks—for my mind was from the very first instant made up how to act in reference to the treasure. As to what its value might be, I could scarcely form an idea: but even before I had spoken to Durazzo on the subject, I had the vague notion that it could not possibly be less than fifty or sixty thousand pounds —and perhaps much more. It was a long time ere we could all three address ourselves soberly aud deliberately to the discussion of this or of any other point. “You may now understand,” I at length said, when the first gush of joyous congratulations and wondering emotions had somewhat subsided, “ wherefore I counselled you that the inmates of the farm should be in no way led to suspect aught that we were doing here. Ii the discovery of the treasure became noised abroad, it would be seized upon by the authorities or else by the present claimants to the patrimony of St. Bartholomew,— none of whom would have so much right to it as we who have succeeded in disinterring it. And I must explain to the reader the conttivance of | now listen to me! For while recommending that this coffer, mt tilt A A AL OT He has doubtless already compre-! measures of the utmost caution‘should be observed DOOKS (CE)