The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 367: what you’re looking at

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

Neen ce nnn rnc cnr en ES ST SS porte S54 tragedy of this awfal night: but in another moment all was over. The corpse was lowered down into its black sepulchre of slime—and the dark muddy waters closed with but a sluggish ripple above it. . CHAPTER XCTIL ° THE TOKENS. Wz must once more transport our readers to Paris—that peerless city which not only sets the fashions for the fair sex, but also affords the ex- sinple of revolutionary glory to all the nations that are down-trampled and enslaved. Three weeks had elapsed since that memorable night on which Julia Owen, under the name of Laura Linden, had br: ught all the artillery of her wiles and intrigues, her witvheries and her biand- ishments, to bear upon Jocelyn Loftus in the prison department of the Prefecture of Police. ° Tae reader will recollect that it was an accident which revealed to Jocelyn the identity of the false Laura Linden with the depraved though lovely Julia Owen; and that this sudden discovery was followed by earnest remonstrances on the part of the young gentleman and impassioned entreaties on that of the young lady. Indeed, in the enthu- siasm to which she worked herself up and with which her maddening desires helped to animate her, Julia had threatened to commit suicide unless Jocelyn would consent to crown her hopes and minister to her sensual cravings. Then was it that in a tone of mingled remonstrance and despair, he exclaimed, “Oh! you will drive me mad—you will drive me mad ["—to which the infateated Julia responded with all the fervour of devouring pas- sion, “QO Jocelyn, dear Jocelyn—thon knowest that I love thee!’ That same instant Louisa Stanley was alike a listener and a spectatress; and the scream which thrilled from her lips penetrated through Jocelyn's brain. By the aid of the lamp he looked through the aperture in the partition- wall; and on recognising his Louisa, a cry of rage and madness burst from him. All in a moment did he understand what must have been the impres- elon produced apon the mind of his well-beloved ; and while levajling the bitterest reproaches against Jalia Owen, he tell down insensible. All these particulars have we thus rapidly reca- pitulated In order to refresh the m@mory of the veader. We may now add that when Jocelyn re- turned to consciousnesa, he found a physician and a curse seated by his bedside; and on inquiry he bearnt that for ten days he had been ill with a deli- vious fever. Ten days! and how much might have happened fe thattime! His Louisa had doubtless renvunced him for ever; and thes were his fondest, denrest, brightest hopes destroyed beyorid redemption! No—unot beyond redemption: for be could explain to Louisa all that had occurred—he could show her how he had been made a victim instead of wilfully becoming a criminal. Yes: but by what means was he to communicate with her?—for he was still a prisoner—still subjected to all the tgours of that seclusion to which he had been ensigned from the first moment of his arrest. He appealed to the physician for leave to send to the post a letter which he wished to write: but THE MYSTKARIF< OF THE COORP. aw aD the medical man, too independent if not too hones® to deceive tim with false representations, at once declared that he had no authority in the matter. Jocelyn then sent to demand an interview with the Prefect ; and this functionary at once acceded to the young gentleman’s request and repaired to his chamber, The physician and nurse withdree > and when Loftus was alone with the Prefect, he demanded an explanation of what had oecurred— how Julia Owen had been his neighbour, and how Mise Louisa Stan ey had been brought to the Pre- fectare? To these queries the Prefect however declined givin an answer; and Jocelyn therefore renained in t rturing saspense as to the circum- stances which had arisen or the influences that had been exercised in order to place Louisa in a position to form the most erroneous and the mos* fatal opinion of his fidelity and honour. Findiog that the Prefect would nut give him any explana- tions on those heads, Jocelyn asked whether he might be permitted to communitate with his friends. The reply was exactly that whiéh he had antici- pated—namely, a negative, deeisive enough though couched in the most courteous terms. He next demanded how long he was to be retained a pri- soner; and thereupon the Prefect addressed him in the following manner :— “In expectation of your oonvaleacence, and na- tarally sappesing that you would wish to pat a term to your imprisonment, those who at present rule your destinies have prepared this bond, which you must sign; and I am instructed —apnn receiv- ing your signature, after you shall have daly perused and ouusidcred it—to grant you your freedom.” “My freedom! ejaculated Loftas. “And im- mediately too?” he asked, raising himself up in his couch and looking eagerly at the Prefect. “ Yes—this very day if you choose,” replied the fanctionary. “It is now two o'clock in the afier- noon,” he added consulting his watch; “apd there is not the slightest reason wherefore you should not be comfortably installed at one of car gay Parisian hotels ere sunset.” * Oh! but I am so weak—eo feeble—so ill,” maur- mared Loftus, sinking back upon the pil'ew. “Change of air and a sense of freedom will speedily restore you to health,” said the Prefect. “Give me the bond,” cried Loftas, stretching out his hand: “let me see what it contains! And yer,” he observed, abruptly checking the eager- ness of his manner, while a dark cloud fell as nndienly upon his features; “it is aseless—I koow beforehand it is aseleas! That bond doubtlecs stipulates conditions which { cannot in honvar fulfi——” “Then will you remain a captive all your life” asked the Prefect, significantly. “Heavens! can such an atrocity be conutem- plated towards me?” exclaimed Jucelyn, in min- gled astonishment and terror. © You must understand,” said the Prefect, “that inasmuch es the individuals whom your conJuct has converted into enemies, are possessed of power illimitable, so will their persecution of you be pitiless if yqu persist in thwarting or interfering with their desigus. q Believe me, young man, it is a somewhat dangerous thing to obey the impulses of a maudiin chivalry, a sickly scntimentalem, or a false hunour ——” , ae OOO COMIC Ss