The Mysteries of the Court of London Vol. 4 — page 167: what you’re looking at

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

154 THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. + trating into the secrets wiich pertained to Dr. M iravelli, if secrets they indeed were. But as he atood in the middle of that room, gazing around By the light of the candle which he held in his hand, he became aware of a powerful | odour of spices which gradually stole upon his senses ; and this was mingled with another smell, of afar different character, ani which seemed to be that of death! It was strange how these two odours struck simultaneously, and yet so distinctly | and L-fFarently, upon the olfactory nerve: but so [it was—and the notiog of something embalmed | speedily forced itself upoy Jocelyn’s imagination. It was now gnite mechanically —iodeed, alto- gether in an unpremeditated way—that Loftols | opened one of the cupboard-doors which stood | ajar. But, heavens! how sudden and convulsive was the start which he gave, as two rows of human heads bristled up befpre his view. Yes—there they wene—two ranges of human heads, looking out at him with fixed and glassy gaze from the recesses of that capboard! Bus our hero's terror ''was only momentary. Hideous aud shocking as the spectacle might be, he was not a child to be | terrified by it: he recoiled in horror, but he trem- j biel not with alarin. Oa the contrary, he now inspected those heads more closely; aud he found ; thu, being embalmed, they wero as he suspected ; the sources of the blended odours which had struck 8» pywerfully on his sense. But hg also observed that the shaven crowns were delicately myriced with a number of lines, dividing the gurface of the cranium into several sections, each geetion being dist'nguished by a figure. Inside the cuphogrd- door was pasted a paper of references; and Joce- Ivn speedily understood that the use of thage em- bilmed heads was for the study of phreaglogy or crantology, in pursyance of the systems of Gall and Spurzheim, at tha¢ time engaging the atten- tion of many lerrned apd scientific men in Burope. A person of Jagelyp’s good sense could pot of | course feel an} antipathy towards Dr. Marayelli for | having in his possession these accessories ta g must | interesting study. Op the contrary, his gaad gpinion | of the physician as an intellectual men waa consi- | with very shame at the bare idea of thus pene- ) —— ee ee EE, A ha ee derab'y enhanced; and again did he long to “peer into that’ book which was so well secured with the grent brazen clasps. But no—he would not thus violate the sanctity of a volume which might be, in Inanuscript and not in print, and therefore doubly sacred. Indeed, he began to feel that he was guilty of an offence in even lingering in this chamber upon the mysteries of which he had intruded. But then he had not found the door locked; and it was there- fore evident—or at least might be presumed—that Dr. Maravelli did not consider the place as the de- pository of any important secrets, however well fur- mished it might be with curiosities. issuing forth from this chamber, and closing the door carefully behind him, Jocelyn proceeded to the other door facing the passage: and without hesita- tion he at once ‘ried it. It opened, revealing an inner door covered with scarlet cloth. This our hero |ikewise pushed open; and now he fouad him- self in a drawing-room where a lamp was burning upon the table, and Mrs. Roberts was pacing to and fro, apparently in a very agitated manner. “Pardon me, madam—Tf am afraid I have kept you waiting,” said Jocelyn, as closing the two doors, ———— 4 oe a ee Ss a ee lee gre on wee ee ee oe eee eA Py ieee at al he advanced into the spaciovs room, which though well furnished, partook of that same sombre aspect that characterised the entire establishment. “The truth is, I mistook the apartment. Not perceiving a light glimmering through the key-hole or underneath the door———” | “ Because of this inner door,” observed the lady. “I forgot to tell you, in the hurry of our dis- course ere now, which door it was atthe end of the passaye that communicated with the drawing- room. The other, I believe, ia the doctor’s lumber- room, for his chemical apparatus. I once pecped in—but not liking the appearance, did not cross the threshold.” ; “For my own part,” observed Jocelyn, “I can- not help wendering that you find courage enough to live in this gloomy abode——” * Courage, indeed !" said Mrs. Roberts bitterly - “had you not a pretty specimen of my coward ce this evoning 2 “Parden me for making an observation so in- discreet—so improper,” interrupted Jocelyn. “ Be- lieve me, madam, I would not for the world aggra- vata yoursorrow. If is, beyond doubt, already too great fur you to endure! No—net for worlds would I enhauce it!” he added with that generous vehemence which showed that the assurance came guching up from the recesses of his heart. * { believe you—I believe you, Mr. Loftus,” said the lady, ex:ending her hand towards him: then, with 9 peculiar smile suddenly appearing upon her counteyance, she said, “I suppose that 1 am to egll you Mr. Loftus ?” * Yes —if you please,” was the quick response. “That other name—I believe that I have re- nounced it fur ever-——But no matter—I await in anxiety any explanations you‘ may have to give me——"’ “MI. Loftus,” resumed the lady, motioning him to take a yeat, and placing hereelf in a chair at a little distance from the one which he tagk: “in the first piace, § must speak about myself. After what has occured this evening you have a right to know something about me. Nay, dg not interrupt me: 1 know full well what you would say. You would tel! me that the service you hafz rendered me fortns not in your estimation any claim upon my confidence. But I think otherwise. At all events I feel as if cheafen itself threw you in my way! I cannot fancy that it was a mere accident—one of the common incidents of life—which thus brought us together. I therefore feel a desire, so to speak—a craving, a longing, to tellé you somewhat of iny own history. It seems to me as if it would be a solace and a con- svlation thus to unburthen myself partially to you. Nor will there be anything indiscreet or improper in this: for although you are so young a man, and I am not so very much further advanced in years,” she observed, with a melancholy smile, “ yet do cir- cumstanges cause us to stand in the light of friends —s0 that the confidence which J may impart and you receive, will bé such as a sister may com- municate toa brother. Tell me then, Mr. Loftus— tell me,” she adde!l, in a tone and with a look of the most mournful entreaty—indeed of pathetic sup- plication—-" will you permit me to speak of my sor- rows and of my wrongs In your hearing?” “ Assuredlys~most assuredly, if it will in the slightest degree soothe your affiictions;’"—and as Jacelyn thus spoke, he surveyed with a boundles, ey SR eee’ oh oe wry qe —— ._— Qe == EE a EE ALS OP TIS Rapes | STENTS ma cc acy PP NN PR gd = TE a EET IS TIE a | ms oan a, ate — eee AEE cae aE a SS ECOMNIE OG O) cS) CO