Joseph Wilmot, or, The Memoirs of a Man-Servant — page 192: what you’re looking at

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LLL LLL CL CC CC CCT tatty JOSEPH WILMOT; OR, THE MEMOIRS OF A MAN-SERVANT. 179 minds me of what I remarked to the Widow Glen- bucket one day, when after I had dined off roast goose and told her to put the rest away for supper, I happened to go into her kitchen and found her with it on the table before her Yes, it must have been a roast goose—it could not have been a boiled sucking pig. However x ** Nonsense, Dominie !” was Mr. Saltcoats’ voci- ferated interruption as usual: “you are perfectly incorrigible with your Widow Glenbucket F “Tt’s just that, Saltcoats,” retorted Mr. Clack- mannan: “for talking of the Widow Glenbucket, reminds me that one day I found you with your face very close to her’s; and as I heard a hearty smack just at the instant I opened the door, I wondered what you were whispering about. It couldn’t have been a box on the ear she gave you, or that you gave her And now I bethink me, it sounded just like a kiss But it happened fifteen years ago, and I have been wondering every since K “Come, my dear Wilmot,” said the perservering Saltcoats, “sit down with us and enjoy yourself. I tell you what,’ he added, drawing me partly aside and speaking in a whisper, “ there’s one of the nicest fellows 1 ever came across—an excellent companion—a fund of anecdote—speaks all kinds of languages—English, French, Italian, German, Latin, and Greek dear boy!” “ But he strikes me as being a Greek himself,” I answered. “Ah, so he is—and therefore it’s not so very odd after all. He only arrived at the hotel about two hours ago,” continued Saltcoats: “* he came in a post-chaise from Naples, and is going on some- where else—some town with a devil of a hard name—the first thing to-morrow morning. Let me see, what is his own name? However, no matter—he is quite the gentleman. The Dominie offered him a pinch of snuff when he first came in: so that led to a conversation—he took his wine with us—and agreed to join us at supper.” Aljl the time Mr. Saltcoats was giving me these hurried explanations, the handsome Greek was listening with the most exemplary patience and with a consummate good humour to three or four unfinished anecdotes of the Dominie’s, in which figured all the hardest and most extraordinary names that he was ever accustomed to introduce into his conversation. I now perceived that the stranger was regarding me; and fearful he might think I was impertinently questioning Saltcoats as to who he was, instead of having all my Scotch friend’s explanations forced upon me, I thought it best to cut them short at once by repairing to the table. “A young friend of ours, sir,” said Saltcoats, introducing me to the handsome Greek,—“ a very intimate friend—Mr. Joseph Wilmot.” “Tt’s just that,” said the Dominie,—“and not Joshua, who stole 4 “* Nonsense, nonsense !” interposed Mr. Saltcoats, somewhat impatient at the idea of a recital of the sheep-stealing anecdote. ‘ Yes, this is Mr. Wil- mot. And Mr. Wilmot my dear fellow, this gentleman is Signor Kan Pan Dan $i But unable to recollect the name, Saltcoats ap- pealed with an entreating look to the gentleman himself, “My name is Kanaris,” said the Greek, with a Only conceive—Greek! my smile,—“ Constantine Kanaris, at your service, sir ;” —and he bowed with well-bred politeness to me. * Kanaris!’ I could not help exclaiming, with a sudden glow of enthusiasm: “that is a noble and an honoured name, sir! Would it be impertinent in me to ask if you be a relative of the famous Greek naval commander P” “Admiral Kanaris is my uncle, I am proud to say,’ answered the handsome young man; and his eyes lighted up with enthusiastic admiration as he thus proclaimed a kinship of which he might in- deed well be proud. I was immediately attracted towards Kanaris: I felt as if I should like to form the friendship of one who bore a name which his relative had ren- dered so distinguished. I accordingly sate down to the table, and made a pretence of eating some- thing. I found that my new acquaintance was indeed well versed in the English language; and before I had been half-an-hour in his society, I had every reason to admire the interesting variety of his information, and to be pleased with the frank unassuming manner in which he conversed. He appeared to take an equal liking to me, and presently expressed a regret that he was compelled to leave Rome early on the following morning, “ as he should otherwise be rejoiced to cultivate the agreeable acquaintances which he had formed.” “Tt’s just that,’ said the Dominie: “and it puts me in mind of what I said to my friend the Laird of Tintosquashdale, when I one day took Bailhe Owlhead, Mrs, Owlhead, and all the young Owlheads—elevyen in numbér—to dine with him unexpectedly Yes, it must have been unex: pectedly—he could not have expected us all—for he had only a couple of mutton-chops for dinner And I told him I knew how welcome the visitors would be. And that puts me in mind ‘N “Nonsense, Dominie!” interrupted Saltcoats. ** But must you really go away to morrow?” he inquired, turning to Constantine Kanaris. “I must indeed,” was the response. “I have ordered a chaise for half-past eight o’clock + “Which reminds me,” I observed, “that I also have to order a chaise for to-morrow morn- ing 2? “'YouP” exclaimed Saltcoats, in a sort of con- sternation: “ you going to leave us too P” “Not for very long, I hope,” I replied: “ but urgent business calls me to Civita Vecchia.” “Civita Vecchia?” vociferated Saltcoats, pro- nouncing it however in some extraordinary fashion: “ why, that’s the very place f “Yes, it’ is my destination,” said Kanaris, with one of those smiles of masculine blandness which only lips like his could adequately express. “I am going to Civita Vecchia; and it is with un- feigned delight, Mr. Wilmot, I have just learnt that you also are bound for that sea-port. Per- haps—if you will not think it a liberty on the part of a strangér in making such an offer—you would accept a seat in my post-chaise ?” “T will cheerfully and gladly join you in the cost thereof,’ I answered; “and it suits me all the more especially, inasmuch as it was my inten- tion likewise to start early in the morning.” “Then you and J, Dominie,” exclaimed Mr, Saltcoats, “will turn out early likewise, that we may breakfast with our friends here.” CoOnmmicaooolks co