Joseph Wilmot, or, The Memoirs of a Man-Servant — page 248: what you’re looking at

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

JOSEPH WILMOT; OR, THH MEMOIRS OF A MAN-SERVANT. 235 “TI scarcely understand you,” was my an- swer. “JT will explain myself fully and completely,” rejoined Constantine. “I told you at the outset that it was not merely to prevent you from pro- ceeding to Leghorn that I caused you to be taken captive. There was another reason. I knew that under any circumstances you must shortly dis- cover that Constantine Kanaris and the pirate- captain were one and the same individual, and therefore s “FT comprehend!” I said. “Apart from the iniquitous affairs to be achieved at Leghorn, you hold me your prisoner in order to prevent me from making any disagreeable revelation to Signor Portici and his niece ?” “ Precisely so,” rejoined Durazzo, with a calm firmness. “In all probability the cruise with Sir Matthew Heseltine and the ladies of his family will be of short duration: for the English Baronet will doubtless prove but too eager to yield to Lanover’s demands, in order to regain liberty for himself and those who are dear to him. Let us suppose therefore all this to be accomplished— let us suppose that Lanover being satisfied, Sir Matthew Heseltine and his family are set at free- dom,—what course would you adopt if I gave you freedom at the same time ?” * Let me ask, Captain Durazzo,” I said, “ what course you yourself would adopt if you were in my position ?” “You have no right, Mr. Wilmot, to beg the question thus,” answered Constantine with a stern severity,—the expression of his countenance at that moment fully illustrating the power of this mere youth with his delicately chiselled features, to assume the air of command which was neces- sary for the control of the lawless crew that with such evident willingness and admiration served under him. “Answer for yourself,’ he added; “and do not speak evasively, nor seek to compro- mise me by an appeal to feelings which, situated as I am, I cannot—dare not understand, In one word, supposing at the end of a week or a fortnight, or within a few days, as the case may be, I put you on shore wheresoever you may choose to be thus landed, — would you proceed straight to Civita Vecchia to proclaim my secret to the Judge and his niece? or would yuu pledge me your solemn word of honour as a man and a gen- tleman that you would keep this secret invio- lable ?” “Of what use,” I asked, “would be such a pledge from my lips, when others might betray you P” “Ah!” ejaculated the young chieftain, petu- lantly ; “again you speak with an evasiveness which surprises me on the part of Joseph Wilmot! But I will answer you in every detail—so that there may be left no excuse for your avoidance to come to the point. Lanover will not betray me— his own interests forbid the idea: I have already told you that Cosmo must yield to the conditions which I shall impose—namely, to serve amongst my crew for a certain period—in short, for so long atime as he might be dangerous if restored to liberty. Then there remains the Austrian officer. He also shall be detained on board the Athene until the time be passed when he would have the power to injure me. You now understand my ‘ policy and my intentions, Mr. Wilmot; and you will give me credit for the desire to spare you that lengthened prisonage which is reserved for the others.” “And if I pledge my word to the effect you demand,” I said, “what guarantee have you that I should keep it?” * Because I have confidence in your honour,” rejoined the pirate-chief. “All this hesitation and evasiveness on your part confirm my previously conceived opinion of your trustworthiness. A man who precipitately gives the pledge that is de- manded of him, would as readily break it: but the man who hesitates at thus solemnly committing himself, deals not lightly with an oath and looks upon it as too sacred to be broken.” “ There is one point which you appear to have lost sight of,’ Iremarked, as a thought struck me. “Tt is not probable,” said Durazzo, with a slight smile, which was as much as to imply that he was not wont to be thus deficient in caution. “The commander of the Tyrol,” I rejoined, * possessed a personal description of you: the written document containing that description, is now in your hands, asi have every reason to be- lieve—but still the captain of the Tyrol may com- municate it verbally to Signor Portici—and the Judge will at once recognise the identity !” “The Tyrol,” answered Durazzo, “ will not tarry an instant at Civita Vecchia when a signal from the port conveys to it the intelligence that the Athene has sailed. She will spread all her cauvass for the chase; and I promise myself the pleasure of leading her such a dance over the waters of the Mediterranean that her time shall be fully occupied for weeks and weeks to come. Unless indeed But no matter! Come what will, T reck not for the Tyrol! In a word, my plans are all so well arranged—my proceedings so carefully settled—that yow only are the object of my concern; and it is from motives of friendship towards yourself that I leave you the alternative of pledging me the oath I have described, when the time shall come—instead of finding myself under the necessity of detaining you a prisoner on board the Athene for a lengthened period.” Durazzo ceased speaking: he awaited my an- swer—but I gave him none. I reflected pro- foundly. I felt it to be a paramount duty that the first use I must make of liberty, whenever ob- tained, would be to reveal the astounding secret to the worthy Judge and his amiable confiding niece, so as to open their eyes to the precipice on which the fabric of their happiness was tottering. But on the other hand if were most impolitic on my part to make an immediate enemy of Durazzo by reveal- ing what my intention was; and the only course at present open to me was by gaining time ere I gave any decided response, so as to trust to whatsoever the chapter of aecidents might turn up. Me I see,” said the pirate-chief, with an air of coldness, which was no doubt assumed to veil his disappointment and annoyance at the failure of his design to extract an immediate pledge from me,— “T see that you require time, Mr. Wilmot, to reflect upon all that I have been saying. And in- deed, when I come to think of it,” he added, now changing his look to a listless one, and assuming @ carelessness of manner, “ there is no earthly hurry. Giook (CO)