The Mysteries of the Court of London Vol. 4 — page 189: what you’re looking at

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

‘iia ee ee cate Bo ee Sree ei ee OW eee 1 eee a ETT a a AAO CAAA aaa areas iaistane ea arat 176 THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. May! - My sister-in-law the Princese Sophia has chosen a somewhat Jaggard messenger; and the vital importance of the document must have worn ituelf out over and over again long ere this. But have I not heard the name of Jocelyn Loftus be- fore?” she asked, with the air of one who seeks for @ particular reminiscence. *« Assuredly, madam,” was Agatha’s prompt reply. * Does not your Royal Highness recollect our dear kind friend Mrs. Ranger informing you how grossly we were insulted by that young man whom we took to ‘be a gentleman——or J even think he said he was a nobleman in disguise——=did he not, Emma?” “ He did,” was the young Jady’s response. “ But you recollect what sad accounts we heard of him— and how he was arrested for travelling under a falee name and being a very bad suspicious character indeed——" “ Yes,” interjected Julia; “and vou recollect, too, how I was compelled‘to remain behind you in Paris through illness ———and what dreadful things I learnt in addition to all you had previously heard——” “‘ Well, my dear girls,” interrupted the Princess, “you can set your minds at rest by the reflection that Mr. Loftus does not appear to be forthcoming to seek an audience at my hands. How Lady Pres- ' cote could have become the bearer of a Jetter which it was evidently intended for Aim to deliver, is a wystery beyond all conjecture.” “ Who knows,” seid Agatha, “ but that this Lady Prescott is the mistress of the adventurer Loftus ? Your Royal Highness may rest assured that he has . imposed by some means upon the Princess Sophia— —_— wee — ieee SS nl worked upon her credulity—and by his specious tales, as plausible as they are false, induced her to give him that letter of introduction to your Royal Highness?” * There is a mystery about all this,” remarked the Princess, a gradual uneasiness arising in her mind, and vegue suspicions slowly developing their shadows srounpd her like undefined phantoms dimly seen. “TI know not what to think. From all I have heard, the impression made upon my mind relative to Mr. Loftu’ is certainly of no favourable nature. But then my sister-in-law’s letter—so ener- getically, so emphatically worded—warne me against being dissuaded from seeing him. What does the Baron think of all this?” Thus speaking, she abruptly turned towards Rer- gami, who, in his usual mood of intellectual pen- siveness, had remained all along a silent witness of the whole scene which we have been describing. But he had lost nothing, neither deed hor word: for‘ even when the young ladies were whisperingly di- recting the Princess's attention to Lady Prescott's condition, the Baron, placed where he was, could not help overhearing all that was said. “What is your opinion, I ask,” repeated the Prin- cesa, “ upon all these matters ?” “Your Royal Highness is aware that whenever my sentiments are desired, I invariably give them frankly and candidly :"—such was Bergami’s reply, delivered in a tone replete with the musical mild- ness of courtesy but with the accentuation of a manly decision. “Then I desire you to speak with your usual frankness now,” said the Princess both encourag- ingly and impatiently. “Come, Baron—what is your opinion ?” “I think, may it please yeur Royal Highness,” said Bergami, “that if Lady Prescott had been suffered to enter into: details, she would have explained any senming contradictions or anoma- lies in all this proceeding. For instance, she might have stated how it is that the letter is dated in December and is only delivered in May— how she comes to be the bearer of it—whrre Mr. Loftus is—and all other particulars. I therefore think, may it please your Royal Highness, that consider- ing this letter emanates from the Princess Sophia —that it addresses you so seriously—and that it adjures you so solemnly,—I think, I say, that it would have been prudent to have heard Lady Prescott at greater length, notwithstauding it was indiscreet in the beginning for a lady in her con- dition to have appeared before you. Atall events, if Mr, Loftus be in Geneva, as I think is probable, it would be but prudent to see him.” “Then I have made up my mind how to act,” exclaimed the Princess, who was entirely a creatare of impulse : and starting abruptly from the garden. seat, she added, “ Baron, I confide this matter en- tirely to ‘you, with the request that you louse no time in sifting it to the very bottom. You, as & man, can see Mr. Loftus, whatever be his che- racter: you can hear what he has to say, and judge accordingly. But if he be not at Geneva, then may you probably find out Lady Prescott's abode, and with some suitable apology for intro- ducing yourself to her, arcertain what more she may have to say upon the business which brought her hitherere now. In conducting these inquiries let this letter itself serve as your credential.” With these words the Princess Caroline placed Sophia's despatch in the hands of Kergami, who forthwith took his departure to enter upon the in- vestigation with which he was now charged, The Princess then re-entered the villa, fullowed by the three sisters, who exchanged looks of apprehen- sion and alarm with each other. *T can now dispense with your attendance until dinner-time,” said her Royal Highness to the young ladies: “for I shall retire to my own room and pen a long epistle to the Princess Sophia, who at all events must have been animated by the kindest possible motives when she wrote that letter which was ere now delivered to me.” gatha, Emma, and Julia—being thus released from attendance on their royal mistress for the next three or four hours—-withdrew to ono of their own chambera, to deliberate upon the scene which had ere now taken place in the garden. The mo- ment they were alone together, Agatha produced the envelope which she had picked up and re- tained: for at the time her quick eye had vauyht some writing inside the paper as it fell to tha ground. The three sisters vow read it in the following terms :<- ““ WapaN :— “The undersigned, Jocelyn Loftus, the indivicual meye tioned in the enclosed letter from the Princess Sophia, presents his duty to your Royal Highness, and begs to state that, having suffered an imprisonment of be- tween four and five months at Grenoble—namely, from December until three daye ago--he was unadle to take any earlier steps towards placing the letter in your Royal Highnes®'s hand. “He does not now seek a personal interview in the first instance with your Royal Highmess, because he ig ees eee eee ~—— ee eos lee a al ee ECOMNIE OG cS) CO