The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 263: what you’re looking at

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

246 THE COURT OF LONDON each other’s interests, alms, and purposes to the utmost of their power. Hence it followed, as a matter of course, that whatever project the prince regent of England might put in force with regard to his wife now in Italy was certain to be privately aided and abetted by the government of his Majesty Louis XVIII. Now, when Mr. Jocelyn Loftus, with more candour than discretion, made known his chivalrous designs to the three Misses Owen, they at once wrote off to England for instructions; and the immediate consequence was a private communication from the prince regent to our own most gracious sovereign, requesting that the person calling himself Jocelyn Loftus might be immediately arrested and detained in some secure place. As a matter of course, our excellent king, mindful of his compact with the prince regent, lost no time in complying with the demand; and the order to take the necessary steps in the matter was forthwith sent to me from the palace. Hereupon, I lost no time in causing the young man passing under the name of Loftus to be apprehended, on the ground that he was residing in France with a passport made out in a false name.” ‘“ And did not the police agent take possession of all the young Englishman’s papers at Meurice’s Hotel?” inquired Jules Martignac. ‘‘ Methinks I heard something of the sort mentioned atthe Ministry of the Interior.”’ “As a matter of course,” replied the prefect; “ all his correspondence was taken possession of and brought hither. The contents of those letters were not, however, very important, chiefly tending to show that Mr. Loftus was engaged to be married to a young lady named Louisa Stanley, who resides at Canterbury.”’ “Ah! that’s the capital of the beautiful county of Kent,” exclaimed Jules Martignac. ‘‘ For you know that I have visited England? Well, and I have passed a few days in that fine old city of Canterbury. Its cathedral is sublime. But pray proceed. What else did the letters and papers show? ”’ “That there was a Miss Mary Owen, the youngest sister of the girls whom we have already been speaking of.” | ‘“ Well, what of this Mary Owen? ”’ “Simply that she had run away from home, I believe, or else deserted her mother and sisters in some peculiar man- CORNIE OO KS (E(0)