Joseph Wilmot, or, The Memoirs of a Man-Servant — page 351: what you’re looking at

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

——., — eighteen months or so, these adventures have swept upon my career like a hurricane!—they have succeeded each other with whirlwind rapi- dity !” “And you so young!” said Mr. Olding, with a sigh which might be either taken for mere com- miseration or for admiring wonder. ‘ About twenty-two years of age, I should guessP And have you always had this spirit of adventure ?” “ Always had the spirit of adventure?” I ex- claimed, marvelling at the expression. ‘ You mis- understand me—you seem to think that it is I who have sought the adventures - “Well, well,” said Mr, Olding, “they forced themselves upon youP—they overtook you P—they involved you as it were in their own storm and whirlwind P” : “This is indeed but too true,” I ejaculated. “ But pray, my dear sir-——” “ My dear Mr. Wilmot,” interrupted my visitor, “do let us have a little quiet discourse together, so that I may. know ‘you well before we enter on the vitally important matters ¥ “ Oh!” I exclaimed, now fearfully excited with suspense; “ then yon, have come to me relative to such matters ?. L. will, endeavour to control my impatience———I have no doubt you have excel- lent reasons for the course you are pursuing ? “ Excellent reasons, my deay Mr. Wilmot. I believe these persecutions which you have, alas ! so continuously sustained at the hands of the Earl of Eccleston, have spread themselves over several years P” “ Several years,” I responded, « Sometimes they ceased—then, when, I saw the Earl, he would solemnly pledge himself that. they should not be renewed—he would even quote arguments to prove that I might consider myself thenceforth safe: but still they nevertheless invariably recommenced !” “ And the Countess, Mr. Wilmot ?” said Olding inquiringly. ., “I have every reason to suppose,” ” IT rejoined, “that her ladyship.has all along been more favour- ably inclined towards me,’ és “You may speak frankly, Mr. “Wilmot,” > ye. marked Mr. Olding: “I know everything ; ; ‘and if T am thus questioning you on various points, it is for a motive which will be hereafter explained. You will then see how natural it was—and—and, I believe, my dear Mr. Wilmot, that you will find me prepared to act as one of your best and staunchest friends.” “T thank you, my dear sir, for this assurance,” I said: and though I was still burning with feyver- ish impatience to ascertain the precise motive of his visit, yet I deemed it to be only consistent with propriety and courtesy to add, “ If I have exhibited any little excitement, I beseech you to pardon me.” “ Not a syllable of apology, my dear Mr. Wil- mot—not a syllable !’”—then drawing his chair still closer towards mine, Mr. Olding said, “ Let us con- tinue the discourse were we broke it off. We were speaking of the Countess “Has she told you everything?” I inquired, looking earnestly at my visitor. “ Everything!” heanswered. “There have been no secrets with me—as there are likewise to be none with you! Indeed, I wish that you would touch upon whatsoever points you consider to be 38 JOSEPH WILMOT; OR, THE MEMOIRS OF A MAN-SERVANT. the most important, and also the most confidential, in connexion with your own career—in connexion likewise with the behaviour of the Earl and Coun- tess towards you: so that there may be all the less difficulty and embarrassment in approaching them and in treating of them.” “'Yes—TI see that you are indeed in the con- fidence of the Earl and Countess,” I said, im- pressed. as much by the kind benevolence of Mr. Olding’s manner,as by the words that issued from his lips. “ Did the Countess tell you how she gave me appointments in Florence P” “To be sure,”, replied Olding : But pray proceed i in your own way.” “ And how she conjured me to quit the menial service which L, was then in—how she offered me a handsome:i income = ee “Which, of. course: you declined,” interjected Olding ,— having, higher and loftier claims ?” “ and how-—— HW Yes! ? T ejaculate , and even with a certain degree of vehemence ; “because I was resolved never to barter for gold the right which I possessed to learn everything from the lips of her who thus sought to bribe me.” . « And very properly reasoned, ” said Mr. Olding. “Tt is impossible to avoid admiring your fine spirit. But doubtless on some other occasion Lady Hecleston—— “ Behaved towards me. in, a way which is ever treasured up in my own, memory!” I ejaculated. “ Yes—I see - that she has, told, you that likewise —how at the hotel ; at Civita Vecchia “The yery» point to which I wished come!” said Mr, Olding. “You met the Earl and the Countess there, you know, at et you were engaged in the affair of the at Mi —eh P” “And the Countess has therefore told you,” I continued, carried on as it were by a gushing cur- rent of the fullest confidence, “how she,entered my chamber while I slept—how she bathed my cheeks with her tears—how she imprinted kisses upon them oe it: lb Jt was indeed an incident, my dear Mr. Wil- mot,” said Olding, speaking in -a tone ° most sythpathizing friendliness, “which, was only too well calculated to make a powerful impression upon your mind. And you never thought it was a dream mf ‘Perhaps at first, sir,’ I answered, “ there were doubts floating in my mind: but subsequently the fact settled itself as a conviction there—and as such has it remained. But have you not now questioned me enough?” “Pray be not impatient, my dear sir,” said Mr. Olding: “ we are beginning to know each other —we shall soon understand each other. The time of persecution has gone by—and you are about to enter on the knowledge of those mysteries a * Oh, at once! at once!” I ejaculated vehee mently. ‘ You know not what pain and torture it gives me to be thus compelled to restrain my impatience !” * And yet, my dear sir,” said Olding, “ having passed through so many perilous and fearful ad- ventures, you must surely have learnt to discipline your feelings.” “-Yes—in all other respects but this!” I ex- claimed: “and here it is impossible! Do you know, sir, that on many an occasion has my life you. to S (CO) ElO@OO)