Joseph Wilmot, or, The Memoirs of a Man-Servant — page 365: what you’re looking at

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

NN ee EEE. 302 JOSEPH WILMOT; OR, THE MEMOIRS OF A MAN-SERVANT. “T candidly admit,’ I responded, “that up to | injured young gentleman :”—and instead of hand. the present occasion I have had nothing to com- | ing the document, his lordship almost flung it at plain of beyond the privation of my liberty. But | Granby. feeling that I am unjustly incarcerated here—on , Almost overcome by my feelings,—feelings of false pretences, and to serve the base ends of my | such wild joy that I cannot possibly deéScribe oppressors—I naturally endeavoured to recover my them,—I sank upon the pallet. The Commissioner, freedom.” | who had remained in the room, made a quick sign “Well, young man,” said the Commissioner, | to the keepers; they rushed forward—and in the “you now see that you were wrong to use vio- | twinkling of an eye the straight-waistcoat was lence. You admit that you are well treated ” ‘stripped off me. Then the first use I made of my “Good heavens, sir!” I exclaimed, almost in liberated arms was to seize the hand of the Count despair ; “do vow likewise believe that my brain and press it in gratitude to my lips. Again he is turned ?” embraced me—he wrung both my hands with most “Come, come, my young friend,” said the Com- } fervid congratulation: were he my brother he missioner, patting me upon the shoulder, “ tran- quillize yourself—and then, you know, this dis- agreeable garment shall be taken off you. Be a good young man: look upon this worthy gentle- could not possibly have exhibited more truly frator- nal emotions. Meanwhile Granby had glanced his eyes over the document; and turning to the Commissioner, man’’—and he glanced towards Granby—“as_ he said in an appealing tone, “It is only too your best friend: consult him when you are, evident that my Lord Count of Livorno appears restless and unhappy—follow his advice—and be- lieve me, he will not lead you astray nor prove unkind to you.” I saw that the Commissioner was talking to me | &s if I were a child, and endeavouring to soothe | me as if my intellect were really of a childish | the law upon your side! standard and that I was susceptible of such con- solation. For an instant I felt boiling with impa- _toconsider that I have unjustly detained his friend Mr. Wilmot here: but you, sir, can bear me out in asserting the legality of his detention » “Enough, sir!” interrupted the Count of Livorno sternly: “itis but too true that you have Butit is impossible that during a period of six months you could have con- tinuously laboured under a mistake as to Mr. tience: but the next moment a reaction came, and | Wilmot’s perfect sanity. No, sir—you knew that the tears trickled down my cheeks. Every one | he was sane !—but selfishness induced you to blind believed that I was mad. sible that their opirion might be correct ? The Commissioner, again patting me upon the Good God! was it pos- | your eyes to the fact; and for the sake of a large revenue you drowned the scruples of conscience —you detained within these walls a young gentle- shoulder, and saying a few more kindly-intentioned | man who, as you knew full well, had no right to and well-meant words, turned away and was about | be here!” to issue from the room, followed by Mr. Granby,— when one of the livery-servants of the establish- ment hastily appeared upon the threshold; and presenting a card to Granby, he said, “If you please, sir, this nobleman demands to see you im- mediately. He has insisted upon following me in search of you Ah, here he is!” Granby looked at the card: I sprang up from the pallet on which I was seated, with a wild and thrilling presentiment that the matter might relate to myself; and the next instant the nobleman to whom the footman had alluded, appeared upon the threshold. An ejaculation of joy pealed from my lips; and in a moment I was clasped in the arms of my faithful friend the Count of Livorno. CHAPTER CLI. FREEDOM. I wEPt upon his breast; and my ear caught the sound of the sobs which were convulsing his own heart at the position in which he found me. But suddenly turning round towards the group as- sembled near, and dashing away the tears from his eyes, the Count demanded, “ Which is Mr. Granby ?” “T have the honour of thus announcing myself to your lordship,” said that individual, stepping forward and bowing obsequiously. “TI think, my lord,’ said the Commissioner, “that you are somewhat severe upon Mr. Granby 4 “T learnt from his domestics, sir,” responded the Count, still speaking with indignant sternness, “that Mr. Granby was engaged with an inspect- ing official ; and I therefore presume that you are he. Did you listen, sir, to whatsoever remon- strances Mr. Wilmot could scarcely have failed to address unto you? Did you order his liberation ? No!—you were leaving the room at the instant I made my appearance: you were abandoning him to that cruel, that ignominious, that horrible posi- tion in which I found him! Your inspection, sir, is a mockery—your oflicial visit a delusion! ‘The country to which you belong boasts of its freedom —whereas I belong to a country which, alas! can make no such boast. Yet there is at least one point on which I may rejoice in the superior civilization of Tuscany over that of HEngland,— which is that it is impossible under the rule of my uncle the Grand Duke for any such atrocity to be perpetrated as that of which my young friend has been made the victim. But enough! Come, Joseph—come, my dear Wilmot—and shake off the dust from your feet at the threshold of this horrible prison-house !” “Tt would afflict me much, my lord,” said the Commissioner, “if you and Mr. Wilmot were to depart with an evil impression ze “And I am sure,” immediately added Mr. | Granby, with a look and tone of fawning servility, “Then here, sir,” exclaimed the Count, with the | “that I hope there will be forgiveness—at least loftiest and most dignified indignation, “is an order for the immediate release of this cruelly- | ae > B ) allowances made “Let us depart, my dear Count!” I said en- — — we -_——- —————_——__-_- ee as i ee SSS _eerQN——" —_--—— —-_-- —-- -—— eS ig er Yor = i SELENE, OS UL ee ed et or . Gloaks (C@)