Joseph Wilmot, or, The Memoirs of a Man-Servant — page 340: what you’re looking at

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

EES SMES 28 alr ASI RE Nove ah 8 IU Sy Be oS Ee EY Sl Ae RS yh In Pet 0S, OEP OE TN J JOSEPH WILMOT; OR, THE MEMOIRS OF A MAN-SERVANT., 327 ing to the landing where the bed-chambers were situated; and it was in one of these that I ex- pected to find Lanover, if he were indeed in the house at all. While mounting this second flight, i looked over the balustrades: the Earl and the Countess were ascending the lower flight together. We reached the landing. The chief, who car- ried the candle, opened the nearest door: it was a bed-chamber—and now I felt my heart palpitating even more violently than before, at the hoped-for probability of finding myself speedily in the pre- sence of that man who could, if he chose, make me the most important revelations. I know not how to describe the tremulous, suspenseful, anxious feeling which I then experienced: the reader must imagine it. The chamber door was opened—the chief looked in first—the next instant my own re- gards were plunged into that room : —there was no one. Glancing round, I perceived the Countess of Eccleston nearly at the last step approaching the landing: the conviction smote me that there were trouble, and anxiety, anda the agitation of strength- ening suspicion depicted on her features. Ah! my conduct was thus distressing her—my proceed- ing was filling her bosom with torturing sensations! But how could I help it? I at once averted my books: for now all in a moment it occurred to me that there was something like an earnest, a deeply pathetic expression of appeal and entreaty infusing utself into her regards. The second chamber was opened: no one was there. The chief was approaching the next door: -——I was rapidly following without casting another look behind me, when my ear caught the quick rustling of adress. The next instant a hand was laid gently upon my arm; and a well-known voice, speaking in low earnest tones— but tones of a peculiar significancy—said, “It is you, Joseph !— yes, I know you!—it is you! You cannot deceive me |” And the last few words were uttered with a sin- gular emphasis, accompanied by much emotion. “This door is locked!” at the same instant ex- claimed the chief, but without immediately turning round. “Joseph! what, in heaven’s name, do you mean by this?” asked the Countess rapidly, but whisper- ingly. “It is locked—and it must be opened!” cried the chief, now turning round. “ My lady, I beg your pardon But where is his lordship ?” “Joseph, put an end to all this!” whispered the Countess vehemently. ‘“ You do not speak— you are silent—but you do understand me! You are no Austrian Oh! no—no! Full well dol recognise you despite this disguise of your’s !” “ Madam—Countess of Eccleston—my lady,” I faltered forth, “I will not deny But the door must be opened—it must indeed !” “One word more, Joseph—one word !”’ she said, in a voice that was exceeding tremulous. ‘“ What is your object ?—what do you suspect P—or rather, what do you know ?” “Shall I force this door?’ demanded the chief, now affecting considerable impatience. “No!” murmured the Countess appealingly to me. “Yes!” I exclaimed, mustering up all my courage. The next instant the chief forced open the door —a faint scream burst from the lips of the Coun- tess—I rushed into the room: Lanover was there — in bed! A light was burning in the chamber—an elderly nurse started up from a seat in dismay: an ejaculation of terror escaped from Lanover’s tongue—but he evidently suspected not who FI was. No—neither the Harl nor he had penetrated my disguise: the keen eyes of the Countess had alone discovered that secret! But now the Earl him. self came quickly upon the scene, followed by the Countess, who had doubtless just whispered to him that which she had previously hesitated to reveal: namely, her suspicion of who I was. “ Joseph—Mr. Wilmot—my dear Wilmot,” said the Earl, fearfully agitated; “for heaven’s sake one word with you!” “Wilmot? Joseph Wilmot?” cried Lanover, who had caught the words: and then, a light breaking in unto his mind, he ejaculated, “ What does this mean? ‘This discuise ie I made a sign for the chief to withdraw—the Countess sent away the nurse also—and then I said, “ Allis known to me, as you may full well understand !” “But how—my .God! how?” shudderingly asked the unhappy Countess, clasping her hands together. “Ah! yes, I see that all is indeed known Js “How P how P” demanded the Earl. “ Joseph, you are ever on my track!’? murmured Lanover, raising himself painfully up in the bed. “Why do you pursue me thus ?” “TI do not pursue you without cause,” I an- swered. “You were first the pursuer: now you are the pursued! I have vowed to learn all that so closely regards me My lord—and you, my lady—leave us—leave me with Mr. Lanover!” “For what purpose?” asked the Harl, utterly bewildered what to say or how to act, as I could plainly perceive. ‘Who are these men?” demanded the Countess abruptly. “Are they really the officials of the law P” “You must leave me with Lanover!” I an- swered vehemently. “Can you not all of you com. prehend that it is dangerous to trifle any longer with one who is so resolute as Iam now showing myself to be?” “ But Joseph E * Joseph! Joseph !” The first ejaculation burst entreatingly from the lips of the Countess: the second from those of the Earl;—and then Lanover himself faltered out, “ My God! what new misery is in store for me? Have I not already endured enough P” “Then you will not leave me alone with this man?” I passionately exclaimed, addressing my- self to the Harl and Countess. ‘ Well, then—hear me! I repeat, everything is known tome! Yes —everything! The surgeon of the prison has confessed } “To whom?—to whom?” demanded the Earl and Countess in the same breath. “To whom has he confessed P” “I have kept the secret so far as I could,” was my response: “but I will not remain silent unless all these mysteries be cleared up to my knowledge! Dorchester ** Dorchester P” echoed the Earl. ** Dorchester?” re-echoed the Countess — the Giook (EO)