Jack Harkaway and his Sons Escape from the Brigands of Greece | Page 6

indicate both love and liquor.
Be that as it may, the singer was not at all aware of the disadvantages under which he laboured.
On the contrary, he had the greatest belief in himself.
"Boatman," exclaimed the lady, impatiently, "row me ashore."
"Yes, lady."
He obeyed, as he spoke, and as the boat grounded, the hidden minstrel stepped forward.
The gallant was rather a tall man, masked and habited in a long cloak, which almost concealed a glittering and gorgeous costume beneath.
This cavalier hastened to tender the lady his hand and to assist her to disembark.
As soon as she was fairly upon terra firma the gentleman led her away to a more secluded part of the garden, and then ensued a brief but highly interesting conversation.
It took place in the Italian language.
That beautiful tongue was not to say elegantly spoken upon either side.
The gentleman spoke as a foreigner, but imperfectly acquainted with the idiom.
"Sir," said the lady, after an embarrassing silence upon his part, "I scarcely know if I ought to be here."
"Nor I either, my dear lady," began the gallant.
But then, aware that this was not exactly what might have been expected of him, he stammered and broke down.
"Poor prince," thought the lady, with a very unladylike chuckle to herself. "How embarrassed he is."
The cavalier stared at her through the great eyes in his mask, as he muttered to himself--
"She is evidently in love with me very badly; I am curious to learn how a princess makes love. I am anxious only of course to study it as a matter of curiosity."
"I ought not to have come here, prince," said the lady, in a nervous tone.
Prince!
The word made the masked gentleman stare.
"Prince! I suppose that she can't know I am a married man, and goes straight to the question. This is popping the question sharply."
He had never been made love to before by a lady of any degree, much less by a princess, so he was exceedingly anxious to see how she would begin upon this occasion.
But after they had got to a quiet and remote part of the garden, they came to a dead lock.
Not a word was spoken upon either side.
"I wish he would say something to me," thought the lady.
She was not used to such bashful suitors.
"I have kept your appointment, sir," she said, "although I fear I am very wrong."
"My appointment," muttered the cavalier in English, "Come, I like that."
However, he added in the softest tones he could assume--
"Fear nothing, princess, I am not a dangerous man."
She thought he was, though, for as he said this he chuckled.
The lady dropped her eyes before his bold glance and looked as timid as you could wish.
Now this appeared only to encourage the gentleman, for he seized her round the waist and pressed a kiss upon the only part of her cheek which was left uncovered by her veil.
She struggled feebly, oh, very feebly to release herself; but that libertine masker held her firmly; that is, as firmly as possible, for he was not very strong upon his pins.
"Sir, you must not take advantage of my unprotected situation," she faltered.
"I should be very sorry to, my coy princess," said the gallant.
These words set her heart beating like clockwork.
"He means well," she thought, growing quite easy in her mind.
Meanwhile the ardent young lover, growing bolder by encouragement, wanted to remove her veil.
"Grant me one favour, my princess," he said. "Let me bask in the sunshine of your eyes; let me feast my vision upon your rare beauty."
The lady was enraptured at such poetical imagery.
"It sounds like a lovely book," she murmured in ecstasy.
But she would not accede to his request.
She was so filled with joy, so supremely happy, that she feared to break the enchanting spell by any accident.
"Desist, prince," she said, struggling gently in his embrace,
"I must gaze on that angelic face," said the passionate Adonis.
"Why," exclaimed the lady, "since you know it so well?"
"Know it!" exclaimed the gallant in surprise.
"Yes."
"I have never seen it."
"Yet your letter praises each feature to the skies."
"My letter!"
He was staggered evidently.
"Undoubtedly."
"I sent no letter."
The lady was amazed "If you sent no letter, why are you here?" she demanded.
"In obedience to yours," responded the gallant.
"My what?"
"Your note--your ever-to-be-treasured missive," gushed the swain.
Now what would have followed in the way of explanations it is impossible to say, for at the momentous crisis, a voice close by was heard repeating softly a couplet heard before--
"Dear Marietta, Never had been A sweeter or neater Face or form seen."
The lady started and screamed, and would have fallen had not the protecting arm of the gentleman been there to catch her.
But her veil fell aside.
When the lover saw her face, he was staggered, and he nearly let her fall,
"Marietta!" he exclaimed, "Marietta! Mrs. Harkaway's maid, by all that's wonderful."
"Oho," screamed the lady, "you're standing