Joseph Wilmot, or, The Memoirs of a Man-Servant — page 353: what you’re looking at

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

340 JOSEPH WILMOT;: OR, THE MEMOIRS OF A MAN-SERVANT. patiently inquired, “to make certain communica- tions to me?” “Not so fast, Mr. Wilmot, if you please!” in- terrupted Mr. Joyce in a tone of authority. “ You and [ are going to have a little discourse together —quite in a friendly way. you know ‘4 “Indeed, I should hope,’ I exclaimed, “ that the Earl would not send any one to me except in a friendly capacity !” * Of course not,” answered Mr. Jovee. ‘“ You have suffered a great deal, Mr. Wilmot, at the Earl’s hands—have you not?” “ Much, sir—much!” I replied,—“ but not too much to be forgiven!” *“‘ And perhaps forgotten f” said Mr. Joyce sug- gestively. “A man may so far control the feelings of his heart,” I answered, “as to vouchsafe a sincere for- giveness. Besides, other circumstances you doubtless know to what I allude may assist him in thus influencing his heart. But to exercise a power over the memory, and compel it to forget, —that, you know, Mr. Joyce, as well as I can tell you, is absolutely impossible! But, Oh! hasten and make me those communications with which you are charged—or let me go at once with you to the Earl!” * Pray control your impatience, my dear young gentleman,” said Mr. Joyce: and taking my hand he grasped my wrist as I thought in a somewhat peculiar manner: but the incident was too trivial to dwell in my memory; and he went on to say, “You are very young @ have passed through so many adventures—to have seen so much of the world “4 at “ For heaven’s sake, myedear sir,’ I ejaculated, starting up from my seat; “do not torment me thus! Think you that if I have passed through painful adventures, it is Find on your part or agreeable on mine to have the recollection of them thus revived? Or again, think you that if I have known pleasant adventures in my time, I am now in a humour to feast upon those sources of happi- ness? Ina word, Mr. Joyce “You excite yourself, Mr. Wilmot, to a very unnecessary degree,’ interrupted my visitor, who was himself as calm and imperturbable as a statue —and would have looked like one too, were it not that he had the faculty of speech. “ But let us approach the main point. Stop! it is for me to guide you thither—and not for you to leap preci- pitately onward in your own fiery haste.” “Well, sir—then I will be calm: for now that you promise to come to the point, I am satisfied :” —and thus speaking, I resumed my seat. “Tam informed, my dear Mr. Wilmot,” con- tinued Mr. Joyce, his look and his manner now becoming more bland and urbane, “ you consider that the Earl and Countess of Eccleston are in a certain way—at least to some extent x “No doubt of it!” I exclaimed, anticipating, as I thought, the query he was about to put to me. * But I am not the less impatient for the frank avowal to be made and for the promised docu- mentary evidence to be shown me. Are you come prepared to do all this on the Earl’s behalf ?—have you brought the papers with you ?” “ Patience, patience, Mr. Wilmot!” interrupted my visitor: “we shall never get on at this rate. Let me put one question to you—and do try and answer it without excitement. You have, I believr, with a sort of chivalrous enthusiasm constanily mixed yourself up in the affairs of other persons, —seeking to succour those who were in difficulty or embarrassment—seeking also to punish, or at least to frustrate the schemes of those who you conceived to be doing wrong?” ; “What in the name of heaven does this tirade mean?” I exclaimed, with a sort of bewildered indignation. “At the moment I expected you were about to question me on some point inti. mately connected with the hopes and aspirations which are dearest to my heart—at least, if not dearest,” I added, thus correcting myself, as I thought of the lovely Annabel, concerning whom everything was really the dearest,—“ I may say very dear, you fly off toan utterly different subject !” “Tt is because, as the Earl of Eccleston’s friend, I experience an interest in everything which con- cerns you,’ answered Mr. Joyce. * Those perse- cutions m * Persecutions again!”—and I literally groaned in despair at whet I considered to be the pertina- cious dogmatic obstinacy of this most annoying individual. “ Well, well, Mr. Wilmot,” he said, “if you do not choose to give me any information with regard to those persecutions, I must positively take my leave of you.’ “ But if, as you have led me to Sekine you are in the secrets of the Earl of Eccleston,” I ex- claimed, “you must know everything!—and of what earthly use can it be to make me recapi- tulate matters which are infinitely painful, and which for so many reasons I would consign to oblivion if it were in my power? Persecutions? Yes—I have experienced them!—such persecu- tions as no one ever before experienced! Now, sir—is that sufficient ?” “Quite, Mr. Wilmot—quite,” was Mr. Joyce’s answer, given with a most singular look and man- ner. “Iam really and truly sorry to have thus been compelled to vex and annoy you: but I must now take my leave.” “Take your leave?” I ejaculated. have told me nothing!” “ Ah, I forzot!” said Mr. Joyce: “This even- ing, at five o’clock, either myself or some other friend of the Earl will come to conduct you to his lordship—and then, Mr. Wilmot “Tf you had told me this at first,” I interrupted him, “ you would have satisfied my mind. Never- theless, I now thank you for the intelligence. You are sure that this promise will be kept, and that “But you without any farther delay, preparation, or eva- » sion A “JT can promise you, my dear Mr. Wilmot,” answered Mr. Joyce, “that this evening at five o'clock you will be waited on by some one who will conduct you to the Harl of Eccleston: and then “ And then,” I joyfully cried, “everything will be made known!” “Be it so, my dear sir. I shall anxiously await the hour when this important interview is to take place.” Mr. Joyce then shook hands with me, and quitted the apartment. “At length,” I said to myself, when the door closed behind him, “I am standing upon the (CO) DOOLKK