Joseph Wilmot, or, The Memoirs of a Man-Servant — page 93: what you’re looking at

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—" y ~ 80 this opportunity of supplying nature’s deficiency with regard to my own countenance: but you must permit me to give you an adequate remune- ration. I shall also take one of these phials, for curlosity’s sake.” I placed a piece of goid in the Frenchman’s hand; and he was so overjoyed as well as grateful that I might have walked off, if I had chosen, with the whole contents of the tin box—bushy beard and all. But I contented myself with a delicate pair of curling glossy whiskers, and a moustache that a Parisian dandy might have envied me the possession of: I also took one of the phials—and then I said to the Frenchman, * But you must not forget your promise to put them on for me.” “This moment, if you please, sir?” exclaimed the grateful mountebank : “or tell me where and when I can wait upon you—and it will afford me such pleasure !” I looked at my watch, and found that it was two o'clock in the afternoon. I asked the French- man how long his performances in the village would last? After glancing around upon the troop, he intimated that they were now all ready to set oif; and that as the village was close at - hand, and their performances were generally limited to an hour, I might judge how soon he could place himself at my disposal. j JOSEPH WILMOT 3; OR, THE MEMOIRS OF A MAN-SERVANT. then left me. The moment he was gone, I sum- moned the waiter—ordered my horse to be saddled —and asked for my bill. The landlord was quite distressed to perceive that I intended to quit his establishment so soon: but I cheered him with the pramise of revisiting him in a day or two; and having paid my account, I took my departure. A few minutes’ ride brought me to the spot where the Frenchman was waiting for me; and I then explained to him that I not only required his assistance to affix the false hair on my countenance, but also to show me how to tint my complexion with the fluid in such a way that the keenest eye might not detect it. I bade the man ask me no questions, but proceed to work, and I should keep my promise by rewarding him liberally. Having stripped off my coat and waistcoat, the dye was applied to my face and to my neck—then to my hands and wrists. It speedily dried; and he {assured me that the colour would be so natural in its appearance that no human being could detect it as artificial. It likewise had the quality of being so “fast,” as linendrapers would say in respect to | the prints of gown-pieces, that no soap and water would remove it for three or four days, when it would gradually disappear by the process of ab- sorption, though without producing the slightest injurious effect. He then fastened on the whiskers and moustache; and when his work was so far ** Well,’ I said, ‘‘ come to me at the inn in the | accomplished, I gave him another piece of gold. village a little before five o’clock. But you will of course make your appearance in your plain clothes; and you need not suffer it to be known that you are one of the professionals who will in the meantime have been exhibiting. Nor is it necessary to give any hint to your comrades as to the object of your visit. Attend to me faithfully in this matter—and I shall give you further proof of my bounty.” The Frenchman promised compliance with all my instructions; and taking leave of the group, I retraced my steps to the village. But while proceeding thither, I flung away the herbs which I had gathered, and which were now no longer of any service to me. CHAPTER XCIV. PROGRESS OF MY ENTERPRISE. WHILE the mountebanks were exhibiting in pre- sence of the villagers, I was partaking of a sub- stantial dinner that was served up; and a little | before five the Frenchman was ushered into the room where I awaited him. He was no doubt apparelled in his best garb—though it consisted of @ somewhat threadbare brown coat with a rusty velvet collar, a faded silk waistcoat of a flashy pat- tern, and light blue trousers puffed out with enor- mous plaits or gathers from the hips to the front and descending almost into points at the boots over which they were tightly strapped. “Now, my good friend,” I said, ‘it is not here that you can perform for me the service that I re- quire: but have the kindness to go and wait for me about half a mile beyond the village—and I shall not be long ere I join you.” | I made him toss off a bumper of wine; and he “ But this is not all,’ said. “ We must change clothes—and I flatter myself that my suit is so | little the worse for wear you will be no loser by the bargain,” The Frenchman joyfully accepted the proposi- tion; and I was careful to remove from my own pockets my pistols and purse,—securing them ' about my person when dressed in the mountebank’s seedy apparel. He asked no questions: I dare say he fancied I was some offender against the laws, hav- ing very good reason thus to disguise myself—but I cared little for his opinion: I was too much re- joiced at the fact of being so well disguised—so in- finitely better indeed than I could possibly have anticipated when on the previous evening at Pis- toja wondering how I! should succeed in disguising myself at all. We parted company ; and remounting my horse, I rode along in the direction of the banditti’s stronghold. It was about eighteen miles from the village; and be it remembered that I had yet a most important object to accomplish ere I could present myself with confidence to Marco Uberti. This was to obtain possession of the pass-word: and my aim now was to procure an interview if possible with Signor Volterra. But as I pur- sued my way, I could not help reflecting that though fortune had so singularly favoured me thus far, I must not be disappointed if she now failed to prove equally propitious. Volterra might be no longer with the band—or if he were I might vainly endeavour to meet him alone: or I might even be captured by the band in the attempt to fall in with him. But in this last-mentioned eventuality I was prepared how to act: I should demand to be taken at once before Marco Uberti, to whom I would boldly proclaim that I was Lano- ver’s deputy,—affording such proofs as I had it in my power to give, and declaring that a pass-word had been mentioned to me, but that it had entirely <S ECORMIC LOO (c@)