Joseph Wilmot, or, The Memoirs of a Man-Servant — page 263: what you’re looking at

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250 JOSEPH WILMOT; OR, THE MEMOIRS OF A mMAN-SERVANT. learn it on board the Athene and have due leisure to speed away ere pursuit can take place, sup- posing that Dorchester when arrested should betray us.”’ “See what I will do!’ I exclaimed: and taking writing materials which were in the cabin, I sate down and hastily penned the following letter :— ‘*On board the Otho. “‘ My dear Count of Livorno, ‘‘ You will doubtless be astonished to behold my sig- nature to this billet; but there is not an inatant’s leisure for explanation. I havea boon to beseech, and which I am confident your lordship will grant. Sir Matthew Heseltine, his daughter, and grand-daughter are at one of the principal hotels at Leghorn. They incur the most perilous risk from acertain quarter; and an Hnglishman who lives in the same hotel, is betraying them under the mask of friendship. ‘hat Englishman will perhaps be recognised by you through his disguis6:— he is the villain Dorchester ! ‘In whatsoever you may do, my dear Count, be earefal not to mention my nams—nor the Otho—nor make any allusion to this billet. It if moreoyer of the highest consequence that your lordship should let me know dy some means what the result is, Pardon the liberty I take in suggesting what these means may be. The instant Dorchester is arrested and Sir Matthew is warned, your lordship might send off a present of fruit or aught else for the table of Captain Kanaris:— I cannot fail to observe that such a gift has arrived, andI shall com- prehend the significancy thereof, ‘‘ Wishing you, my dear Count, all health and happi- ness in your union with the object of your love, ‘‘T remain your lordship’s most faithfal servant, ‘JOSEPH WILMOT.” This letter I penned in French in order that Captain Durazzo might be enabled to read it, so as to be assured of my good faith in promising to say nothing that should compromise himself or his crew. “T am satisfied,” he said. “ But I eannot be- come the bearer of the letter!” Thus speaking, hé rang the silver bell: the youthful page made his appearance—and Durazzo spoke to him a few words in the Greek tongue. The page received from my hand the letter which I sealed and addressed; and he glided from the cabin. “Remain you here,” said Durazzo: “ you must not be seen by the Count of Livorno.” “You have just done for me,” I said, “ some- thing which demands my eternal gratitude. Never will I forget it, Durazzo my friend—for such I may again call you!” ? “Wilmot, I am indeed your friend !” responded. the Greek chief, with a voice and look full of emotion: and the next instant he disappeared from my presence. I was again alone—but Oh! in how different a frame of mind from that which I had recently experienced, I felt that my labour was accom- plished—that the work was as good as done—that Sir Matthew Heseltine, Annabel, and her mother were now in security. I was almost wild with exultation: if appeared as if the impossible had been achieved! At this same time on the preced- iag day, shortly after the defeat)and destruction of the Tyrol, I was almost reduced to despair :—but how circumstances had changed! and how gene- rously, how nobly was Durazzo acting in the long run! I will not however dwell upon the ecstatic state of my feelings: suffice it to say that I was enraptured with the thought that through me Annabel and her relatives would be again rescued from immense peril. Nearly an hour passed,—at the expiration of which interval the youthful page came gliding into the state-room; and with an unmistakable air of being pleased in having rendered me some service, though its nature was unknown to him, he said, “It is done, Signor Wilmot—itis done! I took an opportunity of slipping the note into the Count of Livorno’s hand, whispering to him these words: ‘ Start not—show no excitement —but read this when again on board your yacht’ His lordship took it, making me a rapid sign of intelli- gence; and thus my task was aceomplished. and his beautiful wife are gone; the yacht is already at some little distance from the schooner ; and Captain Durazzo intimates through me that at your pleasure you ean go upon the deck arain,”’ I thanked the page for the information he gave me, and hastened to avail myself of the permission to return to the deck. There I perceived Durazzo watching the beautiful yacht as it glided gracefully over the bosom of the blue waters: but he did not appear to bestow the slightest notice upon me, As I glanced around, I caught the hideous counte- nance of Lanover peering above the top of the staircase,—hideous, bué ominous to me no longer; for I felt convineed that the villain’s aim and hopes would be completely bafiled. ee CHAPTER CXXxX. THE YACHT AND THE CUTTER. WHILE watching the progress of the yacht, which was taking the direction of Leghorn, I noticed another small craft advancing from the harbour of that town. Its white sail was filled with the wind; and it came at a quick rate. In a few minutes the yacht and this small eraft passed each other, with an interval of perhaps two hundred yards between them; and it seemed as if the smaller vessel were coming direct towards the Athene—or the Otho, as it was called for the nonce. Happening to glance round, I saw that Lanover was looking through a telescope in the direction of the two vessels; and then it suddenly struck me that there was something peculiar in his hideous countenance. I surveyed him more at- tentively, without appearing to have my eyes fixed upon him at all; and nowI perceived that a fiend- like expression of satisfaction and triumph was expanding over the features of the humpback. A half-subdued ejaculation of joy escaped his lips ; and turning quickly away from the bulwark, he accosted Captain Durazzo, to whom he made some hasty communication. The truth flashed to my mind. That small craft which was advancing towards the pirate-schooner, doubtless contained Sir Matthew Heseltine, Mrs. Lanover, and Annabel,—together with the villain Dorchester, A boy stood near with a telescope in his hand: I requested him to lend it me for a moment; and without betraying any particular excitement, but assuming the air of one who was He CORNICE OOOKS (E(0)