The Mysteries of the Court of London Vol. 4 — page 163: what you’re looking at

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

| & a eee ce a ant a en eee ee Ors ne et iE RS EER eae er a i _ enn geenearears 150 teen did meet there, took no particular notice of | them. In this manner they proceeded until they | tend to divest himself uf kis own drippmg apparel, and assume the entire charge which Dr. Maravelli | reached a givomy-looking building, where a lamp was burmng over the cntrance. Here the lady pulled a beil, the sounds of which, as they met Jocelyn’s ears, seemed as if cmunating from some ‘cloistrul or cavern-like place. The door was aluo-t immediately opened by an individua! bearing a light: and Jocelyn at onee recognized the: pentiewan with whom he had that afternoon dined at thé adjacent village. eer CHAPTER CLI. THE TWO DOORS AT TIE END OF THE PASSAGE. ¢ Tuts reeoguition was ruutual: aud the lady at ouce noticed, with evident surprise, that licr de- liverer frum the depths of Lake Leman was ac- quainted with the person who had just opened the door in obedienco to her summuns. “You know Dr. Maravelli, then?” she imme- diateiy guid, fixing her eyes upon our hero, and speaking in French. “had the pleasure of dining ir his company to-day,” answered Loftus, in the same languaze: “but I was not then acquainted with his name. Nor did I anticipate the pleasure of so soon meet- ing him again. “Tt scems as if we were destined to be thrown in cach other’s way,” said Muaravelli, witha cour te- ous smle: “and Lat once accept that destiny hy bidding you welgome to ny house. LU 1 did not, give you a0 invitation hither wheo we parted this ufternoun, it was through no disinclivatiou—— But, Ah! you are both dripping wet! Yes—and hutless the one-—-withyut searf and bonnet the other! Good heavens—all this aenutes 4a splash iv the Lake——' “An accident which befell me,” the lady has- teved to observe, “and to which I am indebted for the honour of this‘ gentleman's acquaintance. Or rather, J should say, Iam indebted to him fpr my lifes aud you will admit, Dr. Maravelli, that I copld not do otherwise than invite hin hither to obtain such change of raiment as you may be enabled to affurd 2?” ' “Oh! for that matter no time shall be lost,” exclaimed the doctor: “and uot ouly change of | raiment too, but a bed shall be cheerfully placed at your disposal, air,” he continucd, Sddressing hiowe fto Jocelyn, ‘Then, leading tie way, he hastily summoned hia hous keeper Mavolta, to whose care the lady re- signed herself; while he conducted Jocelyn up a wide but gloomy staircase, along a passage with j an array of chamber-doors on cither side, and the aspeet or which was precisely such as would be ascribed Ly a romance-writer to x house that was hiunted. Opening ove of the doors, the doctor showed Jocelyn suto a bed-chamber, handsomely furnished, but in a sombre style. The draperies were heavy—two ur three l.rge cupboards of a dark-st dned wood filled un the rece-ses—aod there was altogether au abscnve of that lizghtuess, cheer- fulness, and elegancy, which u-ualiy combine aa the attributes of sleeping- ‘fpartments in the city of Geneva. an, COC det Se ieee 2 pr 26 ~s G2 5 wwe 4 2 -—-_ - «pS == = ars es ere ait ad | THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. ¢ Jocelyn dtd not, however, loiter to dwell particu- Jarly upon tic ieatures of the chamber, but has- placed at his disposal. By the time he had thus shilted bis raiment, the physician returned tu con- duct lim duwn-stairs, to a handsume,dming-room, where a tabie was spread for supper. “And now,” said Dr, Maravelii, “you must in- form) me how this accident tudk place?” “You must know,” answered Jocelyn, “that afier we scparated at the village, | was seduced by the loveliness of the evening to,ramble again into the environs ere I came on to Geneva. But not noticmy how time was slipping away, nor how far | was walking, I p:esently reached the border o. the Jake. Ina few minutes 1 heard a heavy plunge— a splash--a gurgling suund—— “Ab! Tuudefstaod,” said Maravelli. “ My fair lodyer, who is most, romantically fond of twilight walks and mooulit rambles, was roving in that same direction when she fellin—eh? S me parts of the Lake are dangerous enough for the in- cautious stroller during the obscurity. And so you had the good fortune to rescue her? Then you have not as yct taken up your quarters a. any particular place in Geneva?” “No,” replitd Loftus. And now that I be- think me, my prolonged absence from the village- jun must excite th: strang¢st suspicions, ‘he landlurd will fancy some accident has ocourred— or that ] have purposely fled.” “7 will despatch some ave thither, with any mes- sage you choose to sénd,”’ said Maravelli, “Of course you will accept of such hospitedaty ai ay humble welling can afford for this mght?” r. “] shall do so with gratitude,” returned Jocelyn: “and if to-inorrow you can help me to suitable lougings you will add to the obligations under which Lam already placed towards you. To speak plainly, I have business to transact of a somewhat delicate natures and 1t accords with my purposes to re:uain in strict seclusion at Geneva for a day or twa.” “Then you wish to tind a quiet retired lodging ?” said Maravellis “in fuct, a place where you will be secure againet the pryings of impertinent cu- rigsity——" “Such is exactly my desire,” returned Jocelyn. “T seek for the utmost privacy——-” «Then it is possible,” said Maravelli, iu a musing tone, " that I myself can acconimodate you. But | must see what Madame Roberts says upvo the point, #8 I never take one lndger to the annoyance of another—and very seldom gentlemen at all.” “Ah! what of mef” exclaimed the lady whom Jocelyn had rescued from a watery grave, as she entered the room at the moment. She lmd ebanged all her apparel, but was sul dressed int baif-mourning, with her bair now ar- ranged in massive bands. She louked what nay be termed interestingly handsome — for she was de- cidedly possessed of a very fine person and of strik- ing features, although her cheeks were colourless and even sunken, and an expression of profound melancholy sate upon her countenance. ° “T was just observing, madam,” said Dr. Mara- velli, ag with th -reatest respec: he placed a chair for her, * that if you had no objection to this gentle- nian” becoming a Jodgex in my house for e short time-—a very short time-—.” we ape Pr ert eee ee i Pn — _ _—_————————eeeEeEeeee—u_oe COMMU CY) AOC) < = CO