The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 256: what you’re looking at

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

TMS MISTERIES OF THE COURS... NN, a SS eRe tenes aed | | | Garther concerning the evesntric lady’s nlstory, as “Qne word®’ she intosrupted, with a sorte of petulant impatience that appeared to be charuc- teristic of her: “we must at all events know hew @ address each other daring the short time wo semain together. What is your name?” * Jocelyn Loftas,” was the answer. “And mine is Laumw Linden,” she tmmediately sajeined, in a tewe eo full of Ingaveousness and an- effected simplicity that our young here was angry with timself for having in any way suspested her eather svandalous causes, it wi become my daty to propose to you, om curesunpe heave, cush escort end es I may bo enabled tp afford.” “'Which I shall aseept cheerfaily aad thankfully ousk to Hagland,” replied Lawea. “And now ist a apply eumelves carmestly and vigoreusiy ¢ “Bet have you already any settled plan whieh. you are purseing, Miss Linden?” iuqoired Loftas. “I have ascertained the whole geography of the | mmaense range of buildings which constitute the Prefectare,” replied the lady. “The old char woman, yicidiag to heavy bribes and to the still gore suaificent promises whieh I made her, has | oeen won ever to nly supplied me with such implements as I required : efd che also denctibed to ae the situation of every part of the eatire atrustare. There is not a roem, made me aware that if I succeeded in eseaping from the windows ef my own room, I should have om learning that my neighbour ({ mean yoursel) 7s om penetrate into this reom end achieve my fligitt by means of-ene of those casements. There is no sentinel in the comt below: I knew-all fis cutiets—and with a coura- geous spirit to succour us, we may be free long ere the first ray of dawn shall glimmer in the enstern “I presume,” said Lous, glancing the various articles tld upon the table, “that we are te file away the bars of the windew—descead by the sitken ladder into the courtyard—and mahe wee of those skeleton-keys for eny door that may ber Gur progress f* “Such is the course whieh I propose,” emowered «Ber Sate Of yellow Haid f° uaid Jocelyn, “it is wl acid to nyeisten the iron: burs, und the filing of them moreecasy. Beat qaick! quick f* she again cried with petulant invpautience: “let us to work !” : It rs now hulf-ew-hyur past midsight,” ebverved | Lotus, consulting bis wendne = “Cot as see if we have eniiceent time before us to execute all that is to be a= Thus speaking, he gently and noiselesely opened og | Se imterests. It was she who. ene of the Gasements: and holding a candle clos te the bare, he examined them attentively. “ Yea, Miss Linden,” he observed, “I will ander take te semsove @ Couple ef those bare in two houre— | am hour fer cach. Then judging from your ideas of the topagraphy of the placa, shail we beve suffiviest | time to scsemuplish all that may afterwards remain to be dewe ere daylight f”’ “Yen—undoubtsdly,” anewered Laura, with al ne Denvetia trepidation ef a captive impatient to Bat ssarcely was this rapid colleqay interchange whea a grof veice, eoming feom the courtyard below, exclaimed in French, « “Shut that windew up there and put oat the lights directly ’—end at the same thne the rattling of a bunch of keys nell * Geed heavens |” murmured the lady, clasping ber hands as if indespairs “it is the watehman going hisvo@nda, whe bas thus observed us i* “And gow,” enid Leftes, ia a tone of bitter d- appointment, “we must look upon all eur hopes as ) anni hs “ Not s0—net a0,” qGaculated Leura, as if suddenly inepited with new courage: “ but we must assuredly abandes eur project for thie night—end in the morning I will aseertein from the eld charweman the presise house at which that watchman goes his rounds. We com then cenduct our operations at- cordingly to-morrow night.” “ Be it so,” said Loftus, well pleased 6 ebsesve that Miss Linden, who evidently knew far more cemcerming the arrangements ef the Prefecture than he did, wae not disposed te resign herself te “Now thes, Number 15there! ave you going to put owt those ligita?” exelaimed the gruff voice of the watohman from the courtyard belew: and agaia did he clank his keys, as if backing hie words by the ssupds of the embleme of autherity. “ My goud friertd,” seid Jocelyn, appreachiag the cusement, which still remained open, “this is the first time that ever I have been ordered te extin- guish my candigg———” “Bat if you have been allowed to keep them barning, % was only through an indulgence, and ast as a tight,” interrupted (he watelunan, deggedty. “le ® because you observed the window open, thet you now seek te curtail that indulgences f” asked Loftus, in as mild and at conciliatory a tone a0 he coatd posaibiy adopt. “Well, I must say that it does look rather suspi- cow,” returned ‘the watcimas, eurtly: “and there. fore, if yeu want to avoill bemg reported to the Prefect in the mornieg, you widl at once do as [ bid you, by shutting that windew and patting out thove * Bor heaven’s sake, keep not the manin paney, Mr. Loftesf” murmured Mics Linden, from the | corner of the room ito which she bad shrank s “he will suspect something—and aii our hopes wild | be rained I” | * Good night, my friend,” said Lofies, speaking , from the casement fo the watchmas belew. “ Your | wishes shall imnsediately be complied with y’—and having clesed the window, he blew out the candies. | The room was now saddeniy plunged into tetal | daikness: and the reader will aot require to be ine : formed that Jucelyn was placed ina very singular ard awkward predicament. There be was, alone—@® | COMM NOOK CO