Joseph Wilmot, or, The Memoirs of a Man-Servant — page 305: what you’re looking at

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

v=" 26 ee ere 292 — ——_——_—__—_—— Thus speaking, the advocate made a sign to an usher who stood at a private door near the ex- tremity of the judicial bench: the usher opened that door—and Constantine Durazzo came forth, followed by the youthful page. The Court of the Special Commission was again crowded ; for the rumour had spread that the pro- ceedings in the Monte d’Oro case were not brought to a conclusion, but might possibly be reopened with an increased degree of interest ;—and this interest was now excited to the very utmost when the two Greeks made theirappearance. But what words can depict the sensation which ensued when Signor Castelli, hastening forward, took Durazzo by the hand,—saying, “ Permit me to be the first publicly to congratulate you—as I was twenty minutes back the first privately to announce to you, that within the hour which is passing a solemn decree of this tribunal will recognise you as the Count of Monte d’Oro and owner of two vast domains.” Yes—it was so!—and that young man who so lately had been a corsair-chief, and !ater still branded by an accusation of murder, now found himself the bearer of a proud patrician title and the inheritor of immense wealth. The evidence was gone into—the decree was given in his favour —and the audience in that crowded court welcomed the new Count of Monte d’Oro with a tremendous cheer, which under the peculiar circumstances of the case the ushers did not attempt to repress. But I hasten over this portion of the proceedings of that memorable day, in order that I may lose as little time as possible in recording those inci- dents that will be found in the ensuing chapter. ete CHAPTER CXXXIX WOMAN’S DEVOTION. I was seated with the two Greeks in my own apartment at the hotel. We three were alone to- gether. My first congratulations had already been proffered at the Palace of Justice; and now they were as fervidly renewed. I cannot possibly ex- plain the amount of joy which I experienced at the issue of two remarkable cases which had been coincidentally taken cognizance of by a civil and a criminal tribunal respectively. Equally impossible is it to describe the joy of the two Greeks,—though that of Constantine Durazzo Kanaris was of a more solemn nature than that of the young page, whose delight was full of youthful wildness. Never shall I forget the scene that took place the moment after the two Greeks had entered my apartment with me and the door was closed. They embraced each other—they embraced me —and then Constantine, advancing towards the window, remained there for a few instants with his back towards us; and though he appeared to be gazing forth upon the passengers in the street, yet I knew full well that he saw nothing there—that all his attention was turned inward—ani that he was silently breathing a prayer to heaven for having so marvellously made his innocence manifest, and for. having at the same time given him wealth and honours. It did really seem as if Providence had purposely steeped that young man for a while in JOSEPH WILMOT; OR, THE MEMOIRS OF A MAN-SERVANT, the bitterest misfortunes, that his soul might be purified and chastened in respect to whatsoever was corrupt—and that at the very instant he issued forth from the ordeal, the means should be provided to furnish the opportunity for a perse- verance in a good and virtuous course. But, as I have said, we were now all seated to. gether: the first gush of feelings was over—we were becoming comparatively calm; and we could speak deliberately upon all those topics which naturally entered into our discourse. “T assured you, my friends,” I said, “ that there was no one in the whole world who with greater delight would hail the manifestation of your inno cence. But you must not blame me if for a time I believed you guilty. You were wronged by such a belief—but heaven knows I wronged you not lightly ror wilfully !—there was a weight of terrific circumstantial evidence pressing upon my mind, and crushing all the endeavours that 1 made to believe you innocent.” “We do not blame you, my dear Wilmot,” re- plied the Count of Monte d’Oro—for such is the title by which Constantine must now be recog- nised, “There was certainly a moment on the occasion of your first visit to the prisoh, when I felt hurt and indignant, because the soul chafes terribly when conscious of its own innocence, and when one’s dearest friend brands it with guilt. But it was impossible that you could entertain any other opinion !” “Yes, impossible!” added the young page. * But I can assure you, Mr. Wilmot, that Constan- tine never spoke of you otherwise than in terms of the sincerest friendship.” “This is true!” exclaimed the Count of Monte d@’Oro; “and henceforth, Wilmot, nothing can pre- vent us from being friends. You yourself have given me so many, many proofs of the sincerest friendship, that never, never can I forget them! Even when a prisoner on board my vessel—your own soul chafing there as mine has lately chafed within the circuit of prison-walls—you could-not hate me: your generous nature inspired you with other feelings. And when the Athene was about to engage the Tyrol, you promised with so much kindness of manner to fulfil the mission I confided to you in case I should fall in the conflict! The other day you abandoned to me the whole of that treasure which we found in the ruins: and what other human being than yourself would have re- sisted the golden temptation? And then too, though believing me to be a foul assassin, you nevertheless undertook nay, more, you volun- teered to do that towards my Leonora which was intended to smoothe down the bitterness alike of her own anguish and of mine ;—and you came to me in prison. I cannot help summing up all these things, Wilmot, though you are listening to me with impatience: but I repeat that they are proofs of friendship which never, never can be for- gotten !” “Never, never!” murmured the young page: and he surveyed me with looks expressive of the deepest gratitude. “And now, my dear Wilmot,” resumed the Count of Monte d@’Oro, “you will no longer object to take your share of that wealth which you indeed were the means of discovering: for it was your perseverance on the occasion which fathomed | a ECORNICEO® Cc KS (E)