Joseph Wilmot, or, The Memoirs of a Man-Servant — page 141: what you’re looking at

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

128 JOSEPH WILMOT; that there was not the slightest tinge of pedantry or dogmatism in his remarks. Another gallery contained some exquisite specimens of sculpture ; and these also I inspected with the greatest plea- sure. The Count then led me to an apartment where refreshments were served up; and as we were proceeding thither, I thought to myself that | OR, THE MEMOIRS OF A MAN-SERVANT. I again thanked the Count for his kindness; and issued forth from his presence, having every reason to be gratified by my reception and thankful to the Count of Livorno for such an introduction,—_ but wondering what could possibly have disturbed the worthy nobleman in a manner which I con- jectured to be more serious than he was willing to in one short hour I had learnt more of the sister | betray. Re-entering the hackney-vehicle, I gave arts of painting and of sculpture than ever I had | the driver the address of Signor Ayellino; and in dreamt of before. No wonder that Sir Matthew | about half-an-hour the coach stopped at the gate Heseltine had bidden me travel upon the Conti- | of a house of much smaller dimensions but of far nent to improve my tastes, to enlarge my expe- | more modern exterior than the palace of the Count rience of the world, and to lead me to a just ap- preciation of the elegances and refinements of | life. I learnt, while seated with the Count of Tivoli at an elegantly served luncheon (to use the English term for the light repast), that the Countess had long been dead, and that he had only his son the Viscount residing with him. He asked me if I had brought letters of introduction to any other persons in Rome; and replying in the affirmative, I mentioned the name of Signor Avellino. Me- thought for an instant that his countenance assumed | a strange look; but if so, it was so barely per- ceptible, and passed away so rapidly, that I imme- diately afterwards concluded I must have been, mistaken. He continued to discourse in the same friendly urbane manner as before; and I made him acquainted with all the incidents in connexion with the Count of Livorno’s sojourn among the ban- ditti—the capture of Marco Uberti—the Count’s love affair with Olivia—and the restoration of his elder brother, the Marquis of Cassano, to the Grand Duke’s favour. I was necessarily led to mention the part which I had borne in all these proceedings: but in pursuance of the advice of the Count of Livorno, I abstained from suffering it to appear that LI had ever filled a menial situation. The letter of introduction which I had brought, | alluded to those adventures, and had desired the Count of Tivoli to request detailed explanations from my lips; and this was how I became led into the narration thereof. tened with the utmost attention; and when I had concluded, he was in the midst of expressing his delight that all had ended so happily—but his re- marks were interrupted by the opening of the door and the entrance of a domestic, who presented him a letter on a silver tray. The servant withdrew; and the Count — appearing at once to recognise the handwriting, as well as to be slightly troubled at that recognition—requested me to excuse him while he readit. He broke the seal; and as he began to peruse the letter, that slight trouble which his features had already dis- played, immediately increased. “Forgive me, Mr. Wilmot,” he said, suddenly laying the letter down upon the table, and speaking in a voice the agitation of which he could not alto- gether subdue, though he evidently strove to recall his self-possession,—“ forgive me for thus abruptly, and I fear discourteously breaking off an inter- view which has afforded me much satisfaction.” “ My lord,” I said, “I am afraid that I have | already intruded too long ;’”—and I rose to depart. “No, no, Mr. Wilmot—do not entertain such an idea,” said the nobleman, pressing my hand warmly. «You are indeed most truly welcome, I hope to. see more of you.” The Count of Tivoli lis- | There was only one domestic in livery lounging in the hall; and I soon perceived that Signor Avellino was a man of limited means in comparison with the nobleman whom I had just left. I mean the reader to understand by this, that my impression was to the effect that where the Count of Tivoli possessed thousands Avellino could only boast of hundreds. At the same time, the dwelling of the latter wore an air of perfect comfort, and denoted an easy competency on the part of its oceupant—while that of the Count of Tivoli indicated opulence. The domestic led me up the staircase, and then along a corridor, at the extremity of which he | throw open a door, announcing myname. I made two or three steps forward—it Was an artist's studio which I was thus about to enter—and a tall hendsome young man, in an elegant morning-gown, was employed with his brush at the easel. “He in- stantaneously—indeed almost with startling ab- ruptness—came forward with the air of one who was annoyingly disturbed in his ayvocations. I stepped back, struck with the idea that I had un- wittingly been rendered an intruder. Signor Avellino came hastily out of the studio—locked the ‘door—put the key in his pocket—addressed a few words in an angry tone of reproof (though I could not understand what they were) to his do- mestic—and then, with a courteous bow to me, led the way into a well-furnished sitting-room. I now presented him with my letter of introduction; and the instant he beheld the handwriting, he recog- nised it—for his countenance lighted up with plea- sure; and he ejaculated the name of the Count of Livorno. With a manner of such well-bred courtesy that it contrasted strangely with what I conceived to be almost the rudeness of my first reception, he motioned me to a seat: and then proceeded to read the letter. “My dear sir,” he exclaimed, before he had | half finished its contents, “can you possibly par- }don what may appear to have been the grossest rudeness on my part? But I have so constantly charged that stupid servant of mine never to in- troduce any one to my studio 4 ‘Pray do not think .it necessary,” I interrupted | him, “to offer any excuses:”’—for he had grasped /'meso warmly by the hand, his manner was so frank and sincere, and his look so replete with 'vexation at the conduct for which he was apolo- gizing, that I was instantaneously propitiated. Indeed, the welcome which he now gave me, Was most Zin and warm; and he spoke my native | language with almost as perfect a fluency as did his friend the Count of Livorno himself. He was not | of Tivoli. —— ee eee above four-and-twenty years of age: I have already said that he was tall—I will now add that his form was of a slender but manly and well-knit sym- <S Glyoo com