The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 106: what you’re looking at

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

ANOTHER PHASE OF DEPRAVITY 87 The hackney-coach rolled away along the Rue St. Honoré; and during its progress to the headquarters of the police, Jocelyn endeavoured to glean from his companion a more special idea of the cause of the present proceeding. But the agent was so guarded in his replies that the young gentleman was left as much in the dark as he was before he put his queries, though, perhaps, his own conjectures furnished him with some faint glimmering of the real truth. In twenty minutes the hackney-coach turned into the dark and gloomy gateway of the prefecture; and Jocelyn was immediately conducted by the police agent into the presence of an old gentleman, who was seated at a desk in a handsomely furnished apartment. This functionary was the prefect of police. “ Be seated,” he said, in a courteous tone; and Jocelyn, as he took a chair, began to imagine that there was no treachery in contemplation, after all. Meantime the police agent had quitted the apartment; but returning in a few moments, he handed the prefect a document which Jocelyn instantaneously recognized as his own passport, and which he had delivered to the land- lord of the hotel, according to custom, on his arrival in Paris. “You know this paper? ” said the prefect, displaying it before Jocelyn’s eyes. “Ido. Itis-my passport,” he replied. ‘* But it is made out in a false name, sir,’? remarked the prefect. ‘“‘ You do not deny this allegation? ”’ ‘“I do not deny it,’’ rejoined the young gentleman; ‘ but I will at once, and, I am sure, in the most satisfactory manner, explain to your Excellency the reasons — ’”’ “I ask no explanations, sir,’ interrupted the prefect, -more curtly and severely than before. ‘‘ With your motives I have nothing to do; the fact, which you deny not, is suffi- cient for me. It is my painful duty to detain you in custody for the present. You will have the goodness to accompany the officer — ”’ “ But, your Excellency, this outrage — ”’ “Silence, sir!’ ejaculated the prefect, now speaking with unmitigated sternness. “No, I will not remain silent,’”’? exclaimed Loftus, his countenance glowing with indignation. ‘‘ As a British COIN @ LOOOKS (CO)