Joseph Wilmot, or, The Memoirs of a Man-Servant — page 81: what you’re looking at

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

68 brain that though she was fully acquainted with all he had done towards me through the instru- mentality of Lanover, yet her soul abhorred his conduct; and that a better feeling than he was capable of experiencing, prompted her to make me some amends. Methought too that there was in her demeanour a certain degree of kindness which longed to find vent in expressions of even a more marked and decisive character than those to which she had given utterance when, weeping and half- sinking, she was a few moments back sustained in my arms. _ “Go, Joseph!” said Lord EKecleston, in a tre- mulous voice: “and fear nothing !—for I take God to witness that I will not harm a hair of your head !” Unscrupulous and black-hearted as I believed the nobleman to be, there appeared nevertheless so unmistakable a sincerity in this assurance, that I could scarcely fancy human hypocrisy capable of an equivalent amount of stupendous dissimulation. I therefore said, “I believe you, my lord; and deeply do I hope that heaven has moved your heart towards one who never wilfully or knowingly injured you!” Lady Eccleston turned abruptly aside while I was thus speaking: but a sob which was only partially stifled, floated upon my ear; and I felt strangely moved towards that woman who evi- dently was not altogether unmoved towards my- self. Then I hurried from the room; and as I retraced my way towards the hotel, I reflected in a strange mood of mingled sadness and perplexity, on the varied incidents of the scene which had just taken place. CHAPTER XCI. THE TWO APPOINTMENTS. As I entered the street in which the hotel was situated, I encountered that Italian gentleman whom I had seen on the previous day in the gal- lery at the ducal palace. He accosted me with an arch smile,—exclaiming, “ Well, Signor English- man, is your mind still occupied with the image of your beautiful countrywoman? Ah! by that tell-tale blush I am certain that it is so!—and in good sooth you exhibit the most excellent taste. Step with me into this coffee-house: we will take a cup of chocolate and have a little discourse to- gether.” I gladly accepted the worthy Italian’s invita- tion: for I felt singularly dispirited by my inter- view with the Ecclestons, and I longed for any- thing that would divert my thoughts into another channel. We entered the coffee-house—or rather café: for it was one of those splendid establish- ments which of that kind are only to be found upon the Continent, and which are superlatively dishonoured and degraded in being represented by the English term which. I have used. Seating ourselves at one of the little tables, we were speedily furnished with the refreshments called for; and the Italian, evidently taking me fora gentleman in his own position of life, treated me as a friend and as an equal. “I know you were so deeply smitten with that JOSEPH WILMOT; OR, THE MEMOIRS OF A MAN-SERVANT. — young lady’s charms,” he said, “that I do verily believe you heard not a syllable of the anecdote I related in respect to the Marquis of Cassano.’ “ Frankly speaking,’ I replied, “ my attention was so much engaged with the splendid scene be- fore me, that I must plead guilty to the discourtesy with which you have charged me.” “Oh! do not accuse yourself of discourtesy,” he exclaimed: “because your inattention was natural enough—bewildered as your mind was with the beauty which had ravished you. But really if you did not hear my story concerning the Marquis of Cassano, it is worth while for me to repeat it and for you to listen to it.” “And by my attention,’ I smilingly answered, “my neglect of yesterday shall be amply atoned for.” “Good !” ejaculated the Italian, who was a kind- tempered man. “TI told you that the Marquis of Cassano is the Grand Duke’s nephew; and he occu- pied the exalted post of Minister of the Interior— or, as you would say in your country, Secretary of State for the Home Department. Rumours were rife that he was secretly fomenting an armed in- surrection in an ultra-liberal sense: but nobody precisely knew whether to believe them or not. There was to be a grand reception; and it was whispered that something serious was likely to take place—but in respect of what its nature might be, opinions were likewise divided. Indeed, all was doubt and uncertainty—speculation and conjecture. I was present in the gallery at that re- ception ; and it was even a more brilliant display than the one you beheld yesterday. All the Minis- ters were in attendance, as usual: and amongst them, as a matter of course, the Marquis of Cas- sano. Before the main ceremony commenced— and when the hall was crowded with a far more numerous assemblage than’ you witnessed yester- day—the Duke rose from his throne; and making a sign to the Marquis of Cassano to stand forward, he addressed him in these terms :—‘ Graceless and unworthy kinsman of mine that you are! your secret machinations are known to me; everything has been betrayed by one of your guilty accom- plices; and were it not that the same blood which rolls in my veins flows likewise in your’s, your life should pay the penalties due to your treason. But wickedness and ingratitude so great as your’s, cannot go altogether unpunished. Here, then, in the presence of those who have assembled to dis- play their loyalty towards their Sovereign, do I proclaim your degradation and disgrace. A decree is already drawn up appointing your successor if the Ministry of the Interior: another decree divests you of your titles and your rank, and confiscates your property. Depart! and carry with you into an eternal exile the bitter remorse which cannot fail to be the result of your crimes !’—Thus spoke the Grand Duke; and you may conceive, Signor Englishman, the profound sensation produced by the words of his Royal Highness.” «And the Marquis of Cassano,” I said,—“ how bore he his degradation? Did he throw himself at his uncle’s feet i “Nothing of the sort,” answered my Italian friend. “He drew himself up with an air of the loftiest indignation—folded his arms across his chest—and was about to speak, when the Grand Duke made a sign—the guards seized upon him, ( ElOOOKKS (CO