Joseph Wilmot, or, The Memoirs of a Man-Servant — page 309: what you’re looking at

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we ee ee, 296 me, I resolved to be present on the occasion. I took an affectionate leave of my friends at the mansion near Ajaccio ; and embarked once more in the steamer for Civita Vecchia. CHAPTER CXL. ANOTHER BRIDAL AND ANOTHER TRIAL, My object was to proceed first of all to Rome: for I had plenty of time on my hands previous to the trial taking place at Florence. On arriving at Civita Vecchia, I inquired at the hotel relative to my friends Mr. Clackmannan and Mr. Saltcoats, whom I had left there about a month previously ; and I learned that they had taken their departure a few days after I myself left:—butit was not exactly remembered in which direction they had proceeded, though it was believed for Tuscany. I therefore thought that it was very probable I ‘might soon fall in with them again. 1 only re- mained for a few hours at Civita Vecchia—where I had undertaken to make the necessary arrange- ments for the sale of the judge’s villa, furniture, and carriage—and whence I was to despatch to Ajaccio the servants who had remained at that dwelling. Having given the requisite instructions to a man of business relative to the property, and having fulfiled my promises in respect to the ser- vants, I proceeded to Rome. Reaching the Eternal City late in the evening, I postponed until the following morning the visits that I had to pay. My first call was then made at the Tivoli Palace,—where I found the Count, the Viscount, Antonia, and Avellino. The welcome I experienced was a most cordial one; and the happy Francesco Avellino speedily took an oppor- tunity of whispering to me aside that I had just arrived at Rome in time, for that the morrow was to behold him the husband of his much-loved An- tonia. I now narrated everything that had oc- curred to me since my departure from Rome about six weeks back: for there was no necessity to ob- serve the slightest secresy in respect to the affairs of Constantine, inasmuch as they had already been bruited abroad by the thousand tongues of rumour, and the intelligence had been wafted upon the wings of the newspaper-press. But still all those circumstances which so closely and intimately re- garded myself, had escaped such publicity; and I now detailed them to the ears of my friends. They listened with the deepest interest ; and when I had concluded, the Count of Tivoli said with a be- nignant smile, “In whatsoever matters you are mixed up, my dear Wilmot—dark and ominous though they may appear for a time—yet does your presence assuredly lead to a happy change of fortune.” I comprehenced that this was a kind, well- meant, and delicate allusion to the happiness which I had been instrumental in diffusing throughout the Count de Tivoli’s own domestic circle ; and I was pleased to find that the part I had played in this respect continued to be thus appreciated. I invoked the aid of the Count of Tivoli towards procuring the pardon of the Papal Court on behali of the Count of Monte d’Oro, for having brough JOSEPH WILMOT; OR, THE MEMOIRS OF A MAN-SERVANT, his pirate-vessel to a Roman seaport. As no act of piracy had been perpetrated towards any vessels sailing under the Roman flag, the Count gave me every hope that the object I sought would be easy ofattainment. I had brought letters from Signor Portici to the Roman Minister of Justice; and these I proceeded to deliver—the Count under. taking to introduce me to the Cardinal holding that Ministerial office. I was well received by that high functionary, who promised to use his interest with the Chief Minister on the point which I had at Seart. The Count then took me to the Car- dinal Gravina’s palace; and here again I was warmly received. On the following day the bridal took place. Does the reader recollect the description which I gave of the Lady Antonia’s beauty? If not, let him refer to the concluding passage of the hundred and second chapter of these memoirs. I may now cay of her ladyship as I so recently said of the Judge’s niece, that never did she seem so exquisitely beau- tiful as when arrayed in the bridal garb. And the bridegroom—the happy Francesco Avellino—how handsome did he look on this occasion! The wed- ding was a sumptuous one,—many of the highest and richest families of Rome being present. Cardinal Gravina himself bestowed the nuptial benediction: and a numerous crowd, gathered in front of the church, saluted the young Count and Countess of Avellino with enthusiastic acclamations, A grand banquet took place at the Tivoli palace; and I may without vanity assert that amongst the numerous guests assembled, I was very far from being the least considered. A few days after this happy event the Count of Tivoli placed in my hands a sealed packet contain- ing a full and complete pardon for whatsoever offences Constantine Durazzo Kanaris, now Count of Monte d’Oro, might at any time have committed against the Roman laws which specially regarded piracy. I expressed my gratitude to the Count for the interest he had taken in the matter; and having now nothing more to keep me at Rome, I took leave of all my friends there, and set out in a post-chaise for Florence. As I passed by the convent from which Antonia had escaped, all the circumstances connected with that young lady were vividly brought back to my mind, I looked back with satisfaction on the part that I had performed towards her; for I had now left her happy at Rome, allied to him who had so long been the ob- ject of her devoted love. Within the space of a fortnight I had been present at two bridals:—not many months more were to elapse ere I was to return to Heseltine Hall and know my own fate! Would that return be soon after followed bya bridal? Oh! if it were—if it were, what happi- ness!—but if otherwise, what misery! Yet very far was I from yielding to despondency on the point—much less to despair, There was but one incident in my life on which I could not retro- spect with satisfaction; it was my youthful—I may even call it my boyish amour with the un- fortunate Lady Calanthe. But if this by any means—through the malignity, perhaps, of Mr. Lanover—should come to the knowledge of Sir Matthew Heseltine, would he not be generous enough to make allowances ? and would he not be grateful enough to place it out of the question when he should come to learn the services I had ClO@®O Ss (c@)