Joseph Wilmot, or, The Memoirs of a Man-Servant — page 69: what you’re looking at

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

] { | LL LLL LLL LLL ELE ALLL LLL LLL A LE IT CCC Cet CECE, SIC esac 56 JOSEPH WILMOT; OR, THE MEMOIRS OF A MAN-SERVANT. along worn it only in the hope of effectually con- I had retained possession of the cutlass, with eealing his countenance from my view. We led | which I was determined to defend myself until the forth the horses ; and he, proceeding first, plunged | very last, if seen and attacked by any others of the with the animal whose rein he held into the} banditti. I passed round the building; and wood. glancing up, perceived lights streaming through an “ Now we must fasten the horses to this tree,” | array of four windows, whence the sounds of the up- he said, “and all the rest depends upon yourself. | roarious merriment evidently came; and therefore I am about to instruct you how you are to effect | I had no doubt that those were the windows of the the rescue of Lord Ringwold’s daughter. But first | robbers’ banqueting-hall. I passed on, and let me tell you how you are to proceed when that | reached the door which Angelo Volterra had de- deliverance shall be accomplished. We stand at | scribed tome, As he had given me to understand, this moment at the entrance of a path leading | it yielded to my touch; and I found myself in a through the wood in a contrary direction from | small vestibule lighted by an iron lamp suspended that by which you were brought to the banditti’s | to the arched ceiling. On the left hand was an- hamlet; you will have little difficulty in pursuing | other door, with two massive bolts: these I drew the path—and moreover the horses know it. On| back—and as the door opened, I perceived that emerging from the wood, -at a distance of about | there wasa light inside. . As I crossed the threshold, three quarters of a mile, you must take the road | I instantaneously caught a glimpse of Olivia Sack- to the right—follow it carefully—diverge not from | ville, who had evidently that moment started up it—and in less than two hours from the time of | from a seat near a small round table ;—and I may starting, you will reach a village. Thence you can | observe that the chamber was tolerably well fur- procure a guide and an escort—perhaps even a|nished. Her countenance was as pale as death: vehicle; and you will do well to push on to Flo-| her very lips, naturally of so bright a carmine rence without delay—for doubtless your master | hue, were ashy: her hair was floating all dis- will have proceeded thither, and the parents of | hevelled over her shoulders and down her back: the lady likewise, to invoke the Grand Duke’s aid | her hands were clasped—and she was on the point in rescuing her whom we ourselves are about to | of falling upon her knees to implore mercy of the save. Here is gold for the expenses of your | terrible bandit whom she expected to appear -before journey: and now listen attentively to the final| her. But whenshe saw that it was I, indescribably instructions which I have to give, and which | rapid was the change that took place in her looks: though last, are the most important of all.” for they at once expressed hope, suspense, and Angelo Volterra had placed a heavy purse in | amazement. : my hand as he spoke; and he continued in the; “Come quick, Miss Sackville!” I said: “delay following manner :— not—and we shall both be saved !”” ‘“ Now retrace your way to the spot where you| She darted upon me a glance of wild joy and left the sentinel: assure yourself that he is still | fervid gratitude—thrust on her bonnet and shawl— gagged and secure: pass round the building and | and thus in a few moments was ready to accompany you will reach another door. It is unfastened—j|me. We sped along—the prostrate sentinel was enter without fear—and in the little vestibule with | passed—the angles of the building were turned— which it communicates, you will find an inner | and in safety we reached the wood where the horses door. It will be merely bolted: open it—and you | were awaiting us. I assisted Miss Sackville to will behold the object of your search. Hurry her | mount: I sprang upon the other steed; and I said away with you—lead her to this spot—and see that | with a significancy which she could comprehend ye both mount hastily.” not, but which another whom I knew to be close Volterra paused for a moment: and then added, | by could full well understand, “Ten thousand, “T shall linger here—but concealed in the deep | thousand thanks to him who by liberating me, obscurity. If all pass off well, my presence will | afforded the means of assuring your deliver- remain unnoticed: but if there be discovery and | ance !” pursuit—in a word, if aught go wrong, then with| I then led the way along the path through the the weapons which I have about me will I battle | wood, which we threaded without another word unto the very last to cover the retreat of Olivia | being spoken. On gaining the road, I broke that and yourself. Remember your pledge—and in no | silence by inquiring if Miss Sackville was accus- case violate it !” tomed to ride on horseback ?—and she at once re- I gave a reassuring answer, and hurried away to | sponded in the affirmative. execute the instructions I had received. The “ But tell me,” she said, in accents of feverish sentinel had recovered, his consciousness; and so | anxiety—“ tell me, even before < speak a syllable of far from his life being endangered, he was now in | gratitude towards yourself, whether my beloved the enjoyment of the fullest vitality, which he was | parents are safe P” exercising for the purpose of releasing his arms| I explained to her how I had quitted the scene from the bonds and relieving his mouth from the | of the attack the very moment after she herself gag,—so that it was fortunate I returned to him | was carried off—and that therefore I was in com- at that moment. But I had so bound him that | plete ignorance of what had subsequently occurred : he could not rise to his feet. I thrust the gag | but I added that there was every reason to hope further into his throat—I tightened the cords— | and believe that no violence had been used towards and even through the obscurity which prevailed, I | Lord and Lady Ringwold, nor any unnecessary could gee the convulsive rage which distorted the | cruelty inflicted on my master beyond the tying miscreant’s countenance. Doubtless he would have | him to the post-chaise :—“ Because,” I added, “the killed me on the spot if he had the power: and | individual who ere now gave me my freedom, bade yet I had taken so much pains to avoid the neces- | me conduct you to Florence; for thither, he said, sity of robbing him of his life! your noble father and mother as well as Captain ee eee rr —_—— OO EE Ore ECORNICLOOOKS.E®