The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 193: what you’re looking at

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

176 THE COURT OF LONDON spirators in England who had been the means of provoking his former prisonage. It is not our purpose to dwell at any considerable length upon this episode in the hfe of Jocelyn Loftus, but a few particulars are nevertheless necessary in order to give an idea of the treatment which he experienced during the renewed period of imprisonment that was now taking place. Two apartments on the debtors’ side of the gaol at Grenoble were furnished in a comfortable and even handsome manner for his reception, a valet was specially appointed to wait upon him, and any orders which he chose to issue relative to his repasts were accurately attended to. One of the yards belonging to the prison was assigned solely to his use for taking exercise, but every precaution was adopted to pre- vent him from holding the slightest communication with any of the prisoners in the other parts of the establishment. These details will sufficiently show that the French authorities were well aware that Jocelyn had committed no real offence, but that his captivity suited the purposes of certain high and influential personages in England. The governor ol the prison behaved toward him in the most respectful manner, and visited him at least two or three times a week to inquire concerning his health, and ascertain whether all his wants were properly attended to. It was on the occasion of one of the earliest of these visits that the French governor addressed Jocelyn Loftus in the following terms: ‘You may rest assured, sir, that not the slightest inten- tion is entertained of using unnecessary harshness toward you, and I am instructed to state that if there be any relation or particular friend in England, or elsewhere, to whom you may wish to write occasionally, in order to relieve their minds from any uneasiness on your account, you are at liberty to do so, and I pledge you my honour as a gentleman . that your letters shall be duly transmitted. At the same time, you will of course understand, sir, that you are not to state that you are in captivity, nor yet that you are at Grenoble; but you can date your letters from any other citv or town of France, and request that all replies may be sent to the post-office of such town, in which case those answers shall be duly forwarded to you hither. You will also take care to avoid inserting in your letters anything Gomichdooks