The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 368: what you’re looking at

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

— a 354 tragedy of this awful 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 XCIIZ. THE TOKENS. We ust 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- ample 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 brought all the artillery of her wiles and intrigues, her witcheries and her bland- ishments, to bear upon Jocelyn Loftus in the prison-department of the Prefecture of Police. The 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 sensuai 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 infatuated Julia responded with all the fervour of devouring pas- sion, “O Jocelyn, dear Jocelyn—thou 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 recognizing his Louisa, a cry of rage and madness burst from him. All in a moment cid he understand what must have been the impres- sion produced upon the mind of his well-beloved; and while levelling the bitterest reproaches against Julia Owen, he fell down insensible. All these particulars have we thus rapidly reca- pitulated in order to refresh the memory of the reader, We may now add that when Jocelyn re- turned to consciousness, he found a physician and a nurse seated by his bedside; and on inquiry he learnt that for ten days he had been ill with a deli- rious fever. | Ten days! and how much might have happened in that time! His Louisa had doubtless renounced him for ever; and thus were his fondest, dearest, brightest hopes destroyed beyond redemption! No—not beyond redemption: for he 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 rigours of that seclusion to which he had been consigned 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 MYSTERIES OF THE COUR?. to deceive him 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 withdrew ; and when Loftus was alone with the Prefect, he demanded an explanation of what had occurred— how Julia Owen had been his neighbour, and how Miss Louisa Stanley had been brought to the Pre- | fecture? To these queries the Prefect however declined giving an answer; and Jocelyn therefore remained in torturing suspense 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 most fatal opinion of his fidelity and honour. Finding that the Prefect would not give him any explana- tions on those heads, Jocelyn asked whether he might be permitted to communicate with his friends, The reply was exactly that which he had antici- pated—namely, a negative, decisive 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 convalescence, and na- turally supposing that you would wish to put a term to your imprisonment, those who at present rule your destinies have prepared this bond, which you must sign; and J am instructed—upon receiv- ing your signature, after you shall have duly perused and considered it—to grant you your freedom.” “My freedom!” ejaculated Loftus. “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 functionary. “It is now two o’clock in the after- noon,” he added consulting his watch; “and there is not the slightest reason wherefore you should not be comfortably installed at one of our gay Parisian hotels ere sunset.” “Oh! but I am so weak—so feeble—so ill,” mur- mured Loftus, sinking back upon the pillow. “Change of air and a sense of freedom will } speedily restore you to health,” said the Prefect. | “Give me the bond,” cried Loftus, stretching | out his hand: “Jet me see what it contains! And yet,” he observed, abruptly checking the eager- | ness of his manner, while a dark cloud fell as suddenly upon his features; “it is useless—I know the medical man, too independent if not too honest ) beforehand it is useless! That bond doubtless stipulates conditions which I cannot in honeur fulfil_—” “Then will you remain a captive all your life ?” asked the Prefect, significantly. * Heavens! can such an atrocity be contem- plated towards me?” exclaimed Jocelyn, in min- gled astonishment and terror. “ You must understand,” said the Prefect, “that inasmuch as the individuals whom your conduct has converted into enemies, are possessed of power illimitable, so will their persecution of you be pitiless if you persist in thwarting or interfering with their designs. Believe me, young man, lt is a somewhat davgerous thing to obey the impuises of a maudlin chivalry, a sickly sentimentalism, or a false honour ——” CORNICLOO (E()