The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 369: what you’re looking at

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one may tremble for the lamb in the power of the wolf! Thus did the week following the interview with the Prefect pass unhappily enough for Jocelyn THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. have you given any indication of anxiety or will- ingnese to obtain my confidence.” “ Because,” rejoined the nurse, “ nothing trans- pired in your favoar outside these walis until Loftas: but still he was determined to endure any | to-da amount of persecution and undergo any extent of adversity, rather than submit to the terms dictated by his enemies. At the end of the week the physician pronounced his patient to be so far recovered as not to require his services any longer. Jocelyn saw that it was of no use to endeavour to interest the medical man in his behalf: for though fall of that coartesy which seems innate with every Frenchman, he was nevertheless evidently a mere tool of the Prefect. Loftus therefore contented himself with thanking the physician for his attentions; and the medical man then took his leave. . Bat the nurse still remained. She was a French- woman of about sixty—taciturn, and reserved, but keen and shrewd, and with that kind of sharp angular countenance which denotes extreme art- falness and duplicity. Hitherto she had never addressed a word to Lofius save in fulfilment of " ing duties as a nurse; but the moment the physician had taken his departure she sud- denly assumed a look of deep significancy, as if encouraging Jocelyn to question her. -“ And are your services likewise to cease?” he asked, addressing her of cvarse in the French tongue. “That depends upon you, sir,” she immediately anewered: “and if you are wise you will senda note to the Prefect desiring that 1 may be allowed to remain in attendance upon you a few days more. Should he hesitate, you must pretend to suffer a relapse, so that it may become a matter of apparent uvecessity fur me to stay. His Excel- lency has the utmost faith in me: I have been attached to the establishment for the last twenty years ; and he does not think me capable of abus- ing his confidence.” ‘ Jocelya had listened in mingled amazement and bope tw this speech, which tae old narse delivered iu a caatious whisper; butafter the conduct of the echarwoman in becoming the agent of Julia Owen's mancavres, and considering also those mancwuvres theawelves, Loftas was resuived not to be hasty in putting faith in anybody belonging to the Pre- “ What am I fo understand from all that you have just told me?” he iuquirél, looking her full in the face. “That I am anxious and able to serve you,” she immediately answered, “if you choose to be served by me.” “But to whatend?” asked Jocelyn, “and in what manoer ?” , “I suppose an escape is the end aimed at,” she returned: “but as to the plan to be adopted, I know naught of it.” “Tell me what you meant by the way in which you addressed me just now,” said Jocelyn, resolved to hear more ere he committed himself in any manner. “For during the past week—indeed, since the delirium left me—you have been for hours aod hours alone with me in this room, dur- ing the intervals between the doctor’s visits; and nut once have you spoken a single cheering word, wus thruwm aside your chill reserve—far less eee = And what has happened at length, thee 7" asked Jocelyn, every nerve and fibre thrilling with ua- certainty and suspense. “ When I went out an hour ago, to procure some jelly fur you at the pastry-cook's,” said the old nurse, “I was accosted by a gentiemen who asked me if I belonged to the Prefectare, as he saw me iseve forth from the building with a smal) market- basket banging to my arm. I answered in the affirmative; and pulling a handfal of gold out of his pocket as a sign that he was able and willing to recompense, he besought me to give him a few minate® private conversation. I told him to fol- low me to the pastry-cook’s; and oa arriving there, we went into an inner room, where we sate down to discourse. The gentieman—who, by the by, I stould have said is an Englishman, he French as well as you do, sir—paut twenty pieces of gold into my hand and asked me if I would accept the sum ase an earnest of what he was disposed to give if I could and would serve hia. To conviuce you, sir, that I am telling the trath,” added the nurse, “here are the twenty pieces that he gave me—all in guineas, as I think you call them in your language :°~—and she dispayed the coin as she spoke. “Well, I certainly see that you have twenty good golden guineas,” said Jocelyn, his heart beating high with hope notwithstanding his en- deavour to put a bridle upon his credulity. “ Pray “The English gentleman, after a great many questions,” continoed the nurse, “evideutly for the purpose of testing my Youd faith, came to the point at leogth by asking me whether 1 knew aty prisoner of your name——" “What same?” asked our hero. “ Jocelyn Loftus,” revurned the old nurse: “for although I kuow, sir, that it is not your right name, yet I am not aware what your right one really is. The Englishman however of whom I am speaking, mentioned you by the name which you bear bere ; and in reply to his question I told him not only that I knew you, but that I was actually appointed by the Prefect to wait upon you. At these tidiogs he was perfectly overjoyed; but with a reasonable regard for caution, he would say nothing more en- lees I took him back from you some tokes to prove that you believed me to betrustworthy. And thet you may be enabled to do this if you choose, I have brought a token from the Englishman.” * Give it to me,” exclaimed Loftas, now utterly anable to subdue or conceal his eagerness; and clutching at a ecrap of paper which the old woman banded him, he hastily read the following lines:— Clara Stanley has seen her sister Louisa, who is safe. This is a token that you have friends outside. Send a token to prove that the bearer may be trust.d.” A fervid joy now flamed up in Jocelyn's eyes gud glowed upon his countenance: for a thrilling and ecstatic ideas ewept through his brain. Lvuisea was safe—and Clara had seen her since the adveoture in Paris. But were the sisters now in- teresting theinselves by means of sume trusty agent Ss CO COMME lOO© ——