The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 370: what you’re looking at

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

i em ee ee es es THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. 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 Loftus: but still he was determined to endure any 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 full of that courtesy which seems ianate 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. But the nurse still remained. She was a French- woman of about sixty—tacitury, and reserved, but keen and shrewd, and with that kind of sharp angular countenance which denotes extreme art- fulness and duplicity. Hitherto she had never addressed a word to Lofvus save in fulfilment of her ministering 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 course in the French tonrue. “That depends upon you, sir,” she immediately answered: “and if you are wise you will serda note to the Prefect desiring that 1 may be allowed to remain in attendance upon you a few days more. Should he hesitate, ycu must pretend to suffer a relapse, so that it may become a matter of apparent necessity for 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.” Jocelyn had listened in mingled amazement and hope to this speech, which the old nurse delivered in a cautious whisper: butafter the conduct of the charwoman in becoming the agent of Julia Owen’s manoeuvres, and considering also those manceuvres themselves, Lottus was resolved not to be hasty in putting faith in anybody belonging to the Pre- tecture. *“ What am I to understand from all that you have just told me?” he inquired, 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 manner ?” “IT 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 imanner. “For during the past weelk—indeed, since the delirium left me—you have been for hours and hours alone with me in this room, dur- ing the intervals between the doctor’s visits; and not once have you spoken a single cheering word, nor thrown aside your chill reserve—far less oe rem oe Se ree? ee ee ee ~~ ~ me re have you given any indication of anxiety or will- ingness to obtain my confidence.” ‘‘ Because,” rejoined the nurse, “ nothing trans- pired in your favour outside these walis until to-day.” “And what has happened at length, then ?” asked Jocelyn, every nerve aud fibre thrilling with un- certainty and suspense. “ When I went out an hour ago, to procure some jelly for you at the pastry-cook’s,” said the wid nurse, “I was accosted by a gentleman who asked me if I belunged to the Prefecture, as he saw me issue forth from the buildiug with a small market- basket hanging to my arm. I answered in the affirmative; and pulling a handful of gold out of his pocket as a sign that he was able aud willing to recompense, he besought me to give him a few minutes’ private conversation. I told him to fol- low me to the pastry-cook’s ; and on arriviny there, we went iuto an inner room, where we sate down to discourse. ‘Tne geutlenxan—who, by the by, I should have said is an Eoglishman, although he speaks French as well as you do, sir—put twenty pieces of gold into my hand and asked me ir I would accept the sum as an earnest of wiat he was disposed to give if I could and would serve him. To convince you, sir, that I am telling the truth,” added the nurse, “ here are the twenty pieces that he gave me—all in guineas, as I think you eaill tiem in your language :’—and she dispiayed the coin as she spoke. “Well, I certainly see that you have twenty vood golden guineas,” said Jocelyn, his heart beating high with hope notwithstanding his en- deavour to put a bridle upon his credulity, “ Pray proceed.” “The English gentleman, after a great many questions,” continued the nurse, “evideutly for the purpose of testiug my good faith, came to the point at length by asking me whether I knew avy prisoner of your name——” ‘What name?” asked our hero. “ Jocelyn Loftus,” returned the old nurse: “for although I kuow, sir, thatit 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 here; 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 waitupon you. At these tidings he was perfectly overjoyed; but with a reasonable regard for caution, he would say nothing more on- less I took him back from you some token to prove that you believed me to betrustworthy. And that you may be enabled to do this if you choose, I have brought a token from the Englishman,” “ Give it to me,” exclaimed Loftus, now utterly unable to subdue or conceal his eagerness; and clutching at a scrap 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. Senda token to prove that the bearer may be trustcd.” A fervid joy now flamed up in Jocelyn’s eyes and glowed upon his countenance: for a thousaud thrilling aud ecstatic ideas swept through his brain. Louisa was safe—and Clara had seen her since the adventure in Paris. But were the sisters now in- teresting themselves by means of some trusty agent ee aa eee oo -—-— OC ec > oe Oe Oe See ~ GOmiGsdoo (C S (E()