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Article IL GRAN VASCELLO. ← Page 5 of 8 →
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Il Gran Vascello.
In the embarrassing situation in which I found myself placed , the confidant of a supposed felon , I thought it advisable to hold a council of war ; the meeting was accordingly held in my apartment , and to it I summoned Herbert , O'Carrol , and mine host of the Gran Vascello , the rest of the party being too young or too indiscreet to be admitted to so grave a conference . The fatal pocket-book was opened , and the notes , to the amount of three hundred poundslaced upon the table before
, p us . After due examination , we all agreed that nothing could be more certain than the guilt of Mr . Cackelben , for more clumsy palpable imitations of the Bank of England notes were never seen . What was to be done—give them up to the police?—my heart rebelled at the thoughtthe poor devil had confided in me ; besides , I had been pleased with the fellow ' s humour , —he was a countryman too ; in short , blame the confession if you willbut I wished heartily that the canny Scot might
, escape . I expressed as much , on which O'Carrol observed that nothing could be more easy ; for that the prisoner ' s window opened upon the same balcony with Herbert ' s , and was unguarded . Herbert remained silent . I looked at him , as much as to ask his advice , but he would not understand me . The Irishman proceeded in a more straightforward manner , first , however , taking the precaution of dismissing our host . " SoHerbert" he began" you are silent ; by my soul ! you can talk
, , , glibly enough when not required ; but here is tlie poor devil—culprit if you will—he has broken bread with us , and , more than that , is a countryman ; his escape depends upon you , and—pshaw , man ! never bear malice !" "I bear no malice ! " exclaimed Herbert , "but do not see how I am
called upon to interfere . If he has violated the laws , he must answer to the laws . " " Spoken like a judge , " answered the good-hearted O'Carrol ; " no casuist could make a better defence ; but say what you will , I shall believe for one , that his criticism , far more than his crime , weighs the scale against him !" The young artist coloured at the insinuation ; he was naturally a fine dispositioned fellowandafter a few moments' strugglethe better
prin-, , , ciple of his nature prevailed . " Well , " he replied , " I had not thought those who so long have known me , ivould have so harshly judged me . To prove I am incapable of the meanness you suspect me of , I will surrender my judgement to your wishes ; but how are we to proceed ?" It was finally arranged that a little purse should be made amongst ourselves , to enable the fugitive to reach Civita , Veccia , and the forged notes forthwith destroyed . The first part of our plan was easily
executed ; each contributed his mite , and Herbert , whom I knew to be labouring under temporary difficulties , gave as much as the others . I ivould not restrain him , for I honoured too much the sentiment ivhich actuated him , although I resolved to find some way of replacing a sum which I well knew he could little spare . Under pretense of settling a wager , wine and cigars were ordered into his roomand ive commenced singing to pass away the time till dark
, , and lull the suspicions of the carbineer who kept watch outside the door of the adjoining chamber . The night at last being sufficiently advanced for our purpose , the window was carefully unclosed , and Herbert sallied forth upon his mission . I must confess I felt anxious for the result . It was the first , and I trust , the last time , in which I ever attempted to aid an escape from justice ; and as I stood listening at the window , I could
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Il Gran Vascello.
In the embarrassing situation in which I found myself placed , the confidant of a supposed felon , I thought it advisable to hold a council of war ; the meeting was accordingly held in my apartment , and to it I summoned Herbert , O'Carrol , and mine host of the Gran Vascello , the rest of the party being too young or too indiscreet to be admitted to so grave a conference . The fatal pocket-book was opened , and the notes , to the amount of three hundred poundslaced upon the table before
, p us . After due examination , we all agreed that nothing could be more certain than the guilt of Mr . Cackelben , for more clumsy palpable imitations of the Bank of England notes were never seen . What was to be done—give them up to the police?—my heart rebelled at the thoughtthe poor devil had confided in me ; besides , I had been pleased with the fellow ' s humour , —he was a countryman too ; in short , blame the confession if you willbut I wished heartily that the canny Scot might
, escape . I expressed as much , on which O'Carrol observed that nothing could be more easy ; for that the prisoner ' s window opened upon the same balcony with Herbert ' s , and was unguarded . Herbert remained silent . I looked at him , as much as to ask his advice , but he would not understand me . The Irishman proceeded in a more straightforward manner , first , however , taking the precaution of dismissing our host . " SoHerbert" he began" you are silent ; by my soul ! you can talk
, , , glibly enough when not required ; but here is tlie poor devil—culprit if you will—he has broken bread with us , and , more than that , is a countryman ; his escape depends upon you , and—pshaw , man ! never bear malice !" "I bear no malice ! " exclaimed Herbert , "but do not see how I am
called upon to interfere . If he has violated the laws , he must answer to the laws . " " Spoken like a judge , " answered the good-hearted O'Carrol ; " no casuist could make a better defence ; but say what you will , I shall believe for one , that his criticism , far more than his crime , weighs the scale against him !" The young artist coloured at the insinuation ; he was naturally a fine dispositioned fellowandafter a few moments' strugglethe better
prin-, , , ciple of his nature prevailed . " Well , " he replied , " I had not thought those who so long have known me , ivould have so harshly judged me . To prove I am incapable of the meanness you suspect me of , I will surrender my judgement to your wishes ; but how are we to proceed ?" It was finally arranged that a little purse should be made amongst ourselves , to enable the fugitive to reach Civita , Veccia , and the forged notes forthwith destroyed . The first part of our plan was easily
executed ; each contributed his mite , and Herbert , whom I knew to be labouring under temporary difficulties , gave as much as the others . I ivould not restrain him , for I honoured too much the sentiment ivhich actuated him , although I resolved to find some way of replacing a sum which I well knew he could little spare . Under pretense of settling a wager , wine and cigars were ordered into his roomand ive commenced singing to pass away the time till dark
, , and lull the suspicions of the carbineer who kept watch outside the door of the adjoining chamber . The night at last being sufficiently advanced for our purpose , the window was carefully unclosed , and Herbert sallied forth upon his mission . I must confess I felt anxious for the result . It was the first , and I trust , the last time , in which I ever attempted to aid an escape from justice ; and as I stood listening at the window , I could