The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 129: what you’re looking at

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

me i <n =p ga a a OT DELETE SET Sa CS tp ssl eee THE MYS@ERIES 116 Gre alasm of the heart's profoundest devotion. “If any- thing had been wanting to convince me of the generosity of your nature—the kindness of your disposition—and the delicate tenderness of your feelings, the proof would now be afforded me. With your concurrence, then, my well-beloved, I will to-morrow set off for the Continent :—the Princess is now, I believe, in Italy—but my jour- ney shall be rapid—my mission executed with promptitude—and my return as expeditious as possible.” “ Yes—we must consent to separate thus for a short time,” said Louisa, as she fell upon Jocelyn’s neck and gave free vent to her feelings. They now separated—the young gentleman tak- ing an affectionate leave of the charming maiden, but with a promise to be at the cottage soon after nine o’clock in the morning. He repaired to the hotel in Canterbury to which the post-chaise had already taken his portmanteau; and retiring to rest, the slumber that visited his eyes was serene and pleasant, not only from the consciousness of duties falfilled or good intentions planned, but also because the image of his Louisa appeared to visit him in his dreams and shed upon him the holy influence of her sweetest smiles. On the ensuing morning Jocelyn Loftus rose early: and the Cathedral clock was proclaiming the hour of eight as he knocked at the door of the Minor Canon’s residence. To his inquiry whether the Reverend Bernard Audley could be seen so early upon business of importance, the domestic answered in the affirmative; and he was at once conducted into a back parlour where the Canon was seated at breakfast. He started and turned pale on beholding Jocelyn Loftus: but instantly recovering himself, he assumed an air of the blandest courtesy as he requested him to be seated. Jocelyn bowed with cold hauteur, and remained standing, “Mr. Audley,” he said, in a firm and impressive: tone, “the words I have to address to you are few —but I pray that they may receive your earnest attention now and your fullest consideration here- after. I returned last evening to Canterbury, and learnt with what amount of indignation, ab- horrence, and disgust, you may perhaps be able to conceive, the atrocious outrage perpetrated by you against an innocent, gentle, and virtuous young lady. Were you to experience at my hands the treatment you merit, an uncompromising exposure would take place, and the Archbishop would at once be led to deal with you according to your deserts. Or perhaps the civil authorities might be appealed to, and the power of the magistrate be called into requisition to show the Honourable and Reverend Bernard Audley that neither his patri- cian connexions nor his holy garb can protect him when he violates the law. But I do not wish to create a scandal upon the present occasion. Several reasons prompt me to deal mercifully with you. The first is an anxiety to spare the already too much outraged feelings of Miss Louisa Stanley the necessity of undergoing any further pain by introducing her into a court of justice. The second is because a lady who is your victim,” —and Jocelyn bent his looks significantly upon the Alinor Canon, who quailed beneath them,—* has appcaled to Miss Louisa Stanley’s mercy on your OF THE COURT. behalf. There are other motives which prompt me to exercise forbearance: but those I have specified are the principal inducements. And now, sir,,am I to expect that yod will henceforth leave Miss Stanley unmolested, during the short time that she may continue to dwell at her present residence ?” “Mr. Loftus,” said the Minor Canon, veiling all the darkest passions of his soul beneath an aspect of assumed humility and contrition,—“ I am fully aware that you are treating me more mercifully than I deserve. I shall say nothing about my sor- row—my repentance—for what has passed-——” “Of repentance I do not believe you susceptible, sir,” exclaimed Jocelyn, sternly. “God forbid that I should allege without reason that any man’s heart is thoroughly hardened: but the conversa- | tion which I one evening accidentally overheard in the Cathedral cloisters between yourself and thas unfortunate lady——” “ For heaven’s sake, allude to it not, Mr. Loftus {” cried the Canon, in a tone of piercing entreaty. “The walls have ears—you may be overheard———” “Alas! that men, especially the ministers of the Gospel, should be guilty of deeds that bear not mention even in a whisper!” said Jocelyn, with a strong accentuation upon his words. “ But I fear, sir, that from the conversation which took place in the cloister, and to which I have referred, your heart is utterly steeled against every principle of honour and integrity—and that it is not accessible to repentance! Nay, more—if the dark allusions and mysterious hints which I then overheard, and which passed between yourself and that unhappy woman who is doubtless the same that rescued Miss Louisa Stanley from your power,—if those allusions, I say, were to be duly weighed and con- sidered, would they not point to some crime where. of you have been guilty?” “Mr. Loftus, you dare not draw such an infer- ence from the ravings of a mad woman!” ex- claimed the Minor Canon, vehemently. “I do not choose to be uncharitable, sir—nor to suffer even my own secret thonoghts to exaggerate the impressions which they receive. Bat a less cautious person than myself would draw strange and even terrible deductions from the deliberate accusations and measured upbraidings which you now term the ravings of a demented female. No, sir—that lady who is your victim, has nog lost the use of her senses: she possesses them with an acuteness and a keenness that render her wrongs intolerable to think of. However, sir,” exclaimed Jocelyn, “I will not dwell upon that subject. My principal aim in visiting you, was to declare that if you should again attempt the slightest molestation towards Miss Louisa Stanley, the authorities shall be appealed to—all | know or suspect concerning you shall be unhesitatingly made public—anad, while your gown is toen from your back, your cha- racter shall be held ap to universal scorn and execration.” Having thus spoken, Jocelyn Loftus bowed coldly and quitted the room, leaving che Minor Canon a prey to all the blackest feelings of rage, hatred, malignity, and vindictiveness that ever boiled like a lava-stream in the heart of man. It was nine o'clock when Jocelyn reached the cottage, where he was welcomed by his beloved Lonisa and Mary Owen. He sate down to treak- al / | Es COMME OG Ss