Joseph Wilmot, or, The Memoirs of a Man-Servant — page 259: what you’re looking at

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246 JOSEPH WILMOT; OR, THE MEMOIRS OF A MAN-SERVANT. _ = peculiar earnestness ; and he said in a low deep voice, “I think, Mr. Wilmot, it must be acknow- ledged that we have made an impression upon each other P” “ Frankly is the avowal made on my part,” I eagerly ejaculated, “ that you have made an im- pression upon me! Can I hope that I have done the same with reference to yourself?” Constantine Durazzo gave no immediate answer: it now appeared to be his turn to reflect profoundly, and mine to study his features the while. “Wilmot,” at length he said, again speaking in a low deep voice, “‘I cannot forget the friend- ship I conceived for you during the first period of our acquaintance. Neither can I forget the gene- rous way in which you spoke to me this morning before the fight. You yourself may judge what is my opinion of that vile intriguing humpback: you can perhaps understand also how great is my regret that I in the first instance assented to the compact which Lieutenant Notaras made with that man. I had gone too far to retreat when I wished to do so. But however,’ he suddenly interrupted himself, “ I can say no more for the present. I feel that this conversation has again brought us nearer to each other than we were before—and I rejoice !”” He grasped my hand—shook it warmly—and hastened away to another part of the vessel. I descended to my state-room in a somewhat happier frame of mind than I had previously experienced. Hope had arisen within me: the heart of Durazzo was touched—that appeal which I made through the medium of his pride was not without its effect. I considered that there was now indeed a prospect of lLanover’s scheme being ultimately baffled through the medium of the very one by whose agency he had hoped to carry it out. In this improved condition of mind I passed the remainder of the evening: and retiring to rest, slept soundly and tranquilly. % oer eee CHAPTER CXXIxX. THE ATHENE OFF LEGHORN. On awaking early in the morning, I speedily per- formed my toilet; and ascending upon deck, found, as I had anticipated, that the Athene was anchored off the town of Leghorn. This flourishing Tuscan seaport possesses two harbours,—the outer one being of considerable size, with a pier nearly a mile in length, and capable of accommodating vessels of tolerable Durden—but the inner harbour being only fit for the reception of small craft. The road- stead is admirable for safe anchorage; and there is invariably a considerable amount of shipping both there and in the harbours. The Athene might easily have run into the outer harbour, considering the depth of water she drew: but it suited Durazzo’s purpose to drop his anchor in the roadstead. There were three vessels of war lying there at the same time; namely, a sloop and frigate belonging to the French navy, ané a frigate with the English colours flying. I naturally thought that the Athene had come into a very dangerous neighbourhood : and scarcely had this idea passed through my mind, when Durazzo’s well known voice falling upon my ear, said, “ All suitable precautions are taken.” I turned round, and gazed upon the pirate-chief : I could not understand the precautions to which he alluded. “We belong for the nonce,” he said, smiling, “to the Royal Navy of Greece—and we are upon the Italian coast in search of a terrible pirate. vessel called the Athene. But come,” he added, again smiling: “and you shall see what I mean.” A mandate was issued: the boatswain’s pipe rang through the vessel—halfsa-dozen of the sailors, who I now perceived were dressed completely as man-of-war’s men, sprang into a boat by the side of the schooner: and Durazzo beckoned me to accompany him. We entered the boat; and as it was pulled away from the Athene, I perceived that her hull, which I had previously known as completely black, was now painted in » way that utterly disguised her. The long broad white streak dotted with the black ports, denoted the man-of- war: above this streak there was a narrower line of an orange yellow; and below the streak there was a line of red. This combination of colours imparted to the Athene a lively appearance, as well as delineating the gracefully sweeping outlines of her shape. “ This is the way,” said Durazzo to me “ that Greek vessels ot war are painted. But behold!” he added, as the boat shot under the stern of the schooner : “the Athene has changed her name for the time being—and she is now the Otho !” Sure enough, the name of the King of Greece was painted on the stern of the Athene,—which had otherwise undergone a transmogrification, so far as colour went: forasmuch as instead of being now altogether black, it had a great quan- tity of white, red, and yellow fancifully laid on. The Greek colours were floating above the ship; and as the pirate-chief surveyed it with looks of pride, he said to me, “Think you that yon ships- of-war will take us for what we are P” “And if the news of the destruction of the Tyrol should reach them,” I said,—“ may not sus- picion be excited ?” “Who can tell that tale except ourselves?” asked Durazzo. ‘“ Where is the Tyrol? where are those who were on board it?” Without waiting for a response, Constantine signalled to his men to pull round to the oppo- site side of the Athene from which we had started ; and we speedily stood upon the schooner’s deck again, Almost immediately afterwards the men were ordered to their guns; and the roar of artil- lery soon swept over the sea. The Athene was firing a salute of twenty-one in compliment to the flags of England and France. “ Now,” said Durazzo to me, when the thunder of the guns had ceased, “ we shall see whether any suspicion be entertained on board those ships. If so, they will send boats to us before acknowledging our salute, to ascertain who we are—or, in other words, to become more intimately acquainted with us. But if we have lulled them into a complete absence of suspicion Ab! it is all right! there goes the salute !” As the corsair-chief gave utterance to these last ejaculatory words, a wreath of smoke suddenly burst forth from the side of the English frigate ; COmicaoolks (C@)