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

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THE MYSTERIES “Silence, sir!’ exclaimed Loftus, with a min- gled dignity and sternness, as the excitement of his soul animated him with the strength to raise himself up once more to a sitting posture in the couch: “you are calumnuiating all the finest feelings that belong to our nature. Because [ have vowed to frustrate the schemes which are in _ progress to accomplish the ruin of a persecuted and injured Princess—for that this is the cause of my imprisonment I can of course full well con- ceive im *“ Let us not bandy words,” interrupted the Pre- fect. “The means of liberty are within your reach; and at all events there will be no harm in your perusing the bond,” he added, drawing a parchment from his pocket. Loftus took the deed—opened it—and endea- voured to read its contents. But only a few hours had elapsed since he had awakened to con- sciousness from the protracted delirium of fever; and a mist was still upon his eyes—so that he could not concentrate the powers of vision upon minute points. Dropping the document from his hand and sinking back upon the pillow, he said in a bitter tone, “I cannot read it: and even if I could, I am persuaded it would be useless.” « Nevertlieless, permit me,” exclaimed the Pre- fect, “to describe the leading points in the bond :” —then perceiving that Jocelyn offered no objec- tion, he continued to say, “ The first stipulation is to the effect that you solemnly and sacredly pledge yourself to bury in oblivion all the information you may ever have received relative to the mission of the Misses Owen and their appointment to situations about the person of her Royal Highness the Prin- cess of Wales. Secondly, you renounce all! idea of forming so unequal a match as that which you have contemplated in respect to Miss Louisa Stanley. Thirdly, you resume before the world your proper name, and make due submission to——” “Enough, enough!” cried Jocelyn Loftus, the flush of indignation appearing upon his counte- nance, a moment before so pale. “ Were your in- famous Bastile still in existence, I would sooner be consigned to eternal imrourement in one of its living tombs, than assent to the terms contained in that document. And now I can full well under. stand from what quarter emanate these persecu- | tions. But, O God!” he exclaimed, an expres. sion of sudden agony passing over his counte- nance as a thought struck him; “ grant that poor Louisa fall not into the meshes and toils——” The remainder of the sentence was lostina suffo- cating sob which burst from Jocelyn’s lips; and for two or three minutes he was almost completely un- manned by the violence of his emotions. Weak. ened and enfeebled as he was by illness, it cannot be wondered if his mind were sympathetically at- tenuated. and that his feelings should for a space triumph over his habitual fortitude. “No—it is not a Bastile which you have to dread,” observed the Prefect after a pause: “ but if you still continue obstinate——” “You mean,” interrupted Loftus, bitterly, “if I still continue to spurn proposals alike dishonour- able and tyrannical to a degree——” “Well, we will not dispute as to words,” resumed the Prefect, rising from the seat which he had taken by the young gentleman’s bedside: “ but ty a ee * | rm ee = — OF THE COURT. . perhaps you will understand me when [I state that if we have no Bastiles, yet we have mad- houses ;—and should you persevere in your present course——” “Enough, enough!” ejaculated Loftus, all his wonted fortitude now returning to his aid. “ You may consign me to a lunatic asylum on pretences as base as those which have made me a prisoner at the Prefecture: but all the diabolical tyranny of the mad-doctor, and all the coercion of the Strait-waistcoat, the barred chamber, the iron chains, and the ferocious keeper, will not prove more effective with me than the persuasion of his Excellency the Prefect of Police !” And as Jocelyn Loftus gave utterance to these words, he surveyed the French functionary with a calm but noble dignity which was more impres- sive than an angry defiance would have been. * Then you refuse your signature to this bond 2” said the Prefect, moving towards the door. “TI do,’ was the firm reply. And now, before you leave me, sir, let me remark that the day will come when you may perhaps repent of your con- duct towards one who never injured you. Indeed, if there be a spark of generous feeling in your nature—if you have aught of that chivalry in your soul for which your nation is so justly famed— you must shrink from the unworthy position which you are occupying—namely, that of the despots’ tool! No honourable man would consent to be the gaoler of an innocent person under such cir cumstances.” The Prefect of Police made no reply to this language of rebuke and remonstrance uttered with dignity rather than with passion: but waiting until Jocelyn had ceased, his Excellency merely bowed and then quitted the room, to which the physician and the nurse soon afterwards returned. A week now passed away, thus making up the three weeks which at the commencement of this chapter we stated to have elapsed since the memo- rable night of Julia Owen’s adventures. During those seven days which thus succeeded the inter- view with the Prefect, Jocelyn Loftus became pretty well restored to health. But his mind re- mained a prey to cruel misgivings and incessant anxieties. That the Marquis of Leveson had interfered in his affairs, he had not the slizhtest doubt. In the first place, it was the Marquis who had been in- strumental in nominating the Owens to their present mission; in the second place, he was interested for his own reputation’s sake in pre. venting any exposure of the conspiracy thus in pro- gress against the Princess of Wales; and thirdly, it was perfectly intelligible to Jocelyn wherefore the Marquis sought to prevent his union with an obscure and portionless girl such as Louisa Stan- ley. Arguing, therefore, from all these circum- stances that Lord Leveson had been busily en- gaged against him, Jocelyn was fearful that the Marquis might by some means or other have gained the confidence of Louisa; and although the young lover had too sublime a faith in the purity and chastity of the damsel’s soul to imagine for an instant that she would lend an ear to any over- tures which the veteran debauchee might choose to make, yet knowing full well how unprincipled and unserupulous was the character of that noble- mau, Jocelyn could not help fearing for Louisa as —- se eee ee ee ee —— eee ee ee COMIClooks (CO)