The Mysteries of the Court of London Vol. 4 — page 164: what you’re looking at

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

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THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT.. ne “Under any other. circumstanses than those which have this evening occurred,” interrupted the lady, with a peculiar look and significant tone as she addressed herself to the doctor, “I should decidedly have objected to any $uch arrangement.” “Yes, Madame Roberts~I[ know it, I kuow it,” EEFESES GRarepa Maravelli hastened to observe. ‘ Under any other circumstances’ tio doubt: but as this gentleman was so providentially thrown in your way 2 saatch you from a watery grave, 1 think that he may at once be . . é @ regarded in the light of a friend—something morc than a mere acquaintance—especially as he 2s a countryman of your own——~” “This is preciselss the view which I take of the matter,” said the lady, who, it appeared, passed by the name of Madame Roberts : “and therefore, if this gentleman——=But we are as yet strangers to each other by name,” she added with a mournfa smile, “though already speaking of friendship.” * The name that figures upon my passport,” said our hero, “is Jocelyn Loftus.” » “Ah!” ejaculated Mrs. Roberts, with a sudden start: and she surveyed our hero with ewdent sur- prise, curiosity, anid interest. “Is it possible this name is known to you ?” asked Jocalyn, though not with any mistrust ot alarm: for theré was something jn the Jaiy’s manner, lan- guaze, and indeed her whole appeagance, which convinced him that her own sorrows, whatever they might be, were of too deep and absorbing a cha- yaccer to permit her to Larhour treacherous designs towards another: and there was altogether an air of geainine frankness and sincerity about her which paced Jocelyn quite at his ease on that head. “Yei—the name of Jocelyn Loftus is indecd haown to, mf,” sue, answered; “and honourably so:"—then turning to Ds Mardvell, che said, “By all means, if you eau ac ommodate th gen- ticman, do so. You have just heard thot his name is known to mel Gan asgure you itis one that wou d not disgrace the interior of a palace !” lt waa now Jocelyu’s tarn to survey aitit aston ichment, curiosity, and tnteres! tha lady wiio thus frankly and generously became a gaarautee for his respectabiity, and whe dsevise spoke of him in such flattering terms, Bitshe made arapial s yo to him, unperecived by Macave!l, to inuimage that this was not the moment for farther explanations 5 and he accordingly witidrew tis inguirine lauds aud held back the verbal questions that were abo a3 to issue from histongue Almost at the same in:- inent the door opened; and the dactor’s huusr- keeper, Mavolta, entered bearing a tray on which were several dishes that seat forth a savoury per- fume. “ Aud now, by the by,” said Maravelli, “ relative to this message which you dasire tu be sent to the village-inn ?” “Tf it be understood that I am to take up my quarters at your house,” answered Jocelyh, “la! my baggage be fetched from the inn—the bill paid —and the post-chaise dismissed back to Chambery, where [hired it.” Thus speaking, Jocelyn produced money from his purse to defray the items alluded to; and Ma. volta was at once chargod with the duty of de- spatching a messenger to the village-ino. The physician, Mra.“fioberia, and Jocelyn now sit down tosupper; and during the meal the cony versatiqa turned upon a variety uf indifferent =e ae os weet wee |= ito CEE ee _ acne te 151 topies. The Indy, though evidently oppressed by a profound sense of affliction,-and also suffer- ing from the exhausting influences of her two im- mersions in the water aud a'l the excitement which had accompanied those attempts at. sclf- destruction,— nevertheless proved an agreeable companion. Sne strove to be cheerful; and as her conversational powers were by no means limited, she could nant make such an effurt without succecding tu a certain extent, As for Mara- velli, he gave {rea scope to that garrulous pro- pensity which he really possessed when apart fram the sonaderations of business: and thus, altbgether, Jucelyn spent by no means an uuplea- @#ant evening. But still he was under the inflaence of no ordi- nary sentiment of curiusity. Wao was this Madame or Mrs. Roberts, avowedly living under a feigned name at the huse of the Gcnevese physician ? His wife she assuredly wis not; because if go, why should the fact be concealed 3—and his mis- tress she did not seem to be, inasmuch as he treated her with the utmost defermnce an] respect instead of with familiarity. Indeed, her own deportment was such as to convinee Jocelyn that she was really what was represented—namely, a lodger in Dr. Maravelli’s house and a boar-jer at his table. But was it not a singulir dwelling for a lady to choose? Whether married or a widow, tore seeme:s something imprudent or suspicions in ier fixing her residence beneath sach a roof And that she wasa ady by birth, education, and social position, was beyond ail doubt. That shy had meved in the very bast circles, too, was also ap- parent: for in the course of conversation sne let ginp a few allusions to perscniges of the highest rank in Enyland, and with waom she was evi- dently acquainted. Nor were these allasions made with the air of one who art'n‘ly und purvosely suffers her bvil‘iant connexions thus to transpire : bas waatevor Mrs. Roberts sav! of this kind, was riven utterance to in all frankuess and sincerity. Who then cond she be—this lady who was sur- rounded by 8» much mystery? Of course Joeclyn had uot filed to observe how intone she Wis upon some inward woe, even while gtrinecling to seo cheer au.l to force herself to take a dua share in the conyvarantion, attemmot at siteile had indeed proven that the evict ste sug cuevished was us the most pol.mnt nature; and daring the orensional pauses which oceurre 1 im the discourse, Jocelyn observed a sudden expression of ineffable LWiruish sweep over her features, and thea Ve sueceudod with 80 sinister a cloom that it was by no means didieds to understand that she ex rienced the goading sense of a decp wrong and cherished an implacable vengeance, There was a suspicion which Jocelyn had formed concerning this lady from the very first moment he had dracged her forth from the water: for then, as her varments clin z closely to her, hee shape ap- peared to indicate that she was in the way to become a mother. But upon this idea the natural delicacy of onr hero's feelings did not permit him to dwell, even in the deep recess of his own soul. At the game time, if this suspicion were correct, and if she wore a widow, as her mourning garment led him to believes (Uthouch she wore oot the widow's ca nor eharactcristic sleeve), then uuld the circumstance ae ’ Lier double: ee ee en GG a om ED SP LS LT LT a TT a EE PE LT aL ESET aT on eee eee eee oe eee eee ee aR ccs ap a ca ea eR Nk SP Pp a © I cS ID Re oy AR WP PV yp a So PE ay (ae (CO ( O) AOC) < S) CO