The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 210: what you’re looking at

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

THE PREFECTURE OF POLICE 187 enough reading to while away the time of a twelvemonths’ imprisonment. The next moment, however, he felt angry with himself for having allowed the incident to operate as an omen or a presage; and he murmured, half-aloud, “The domestic who brought those books could not possibly be aware whether my captivity is destined to last days or years.” Then, with characteristic courage, Loftus conjured up every possible reflection of a soothing, hopeful, or consolatory nature. In the evening the domestic reappeared with the prisoner’s supper, which also consisted of several dishes and a liberal supply of wine. Candles were furnished without restriction as to the period of their use, so that Loftus could burn them throughout the night if he felt disposed. In the morning the breakfast that was served up to him was as copious as the other meals; and when he had partaken of the repast, an old woman was introduced by the domestic to make the bed and sweep out the room, during which process Jocelyn was permitted to walk up and down the long dark passage outside. We have now afforded an idea of the routine of Jocelyn’s first day at the prefecture, and thence an estimate may be drawn of the monotonous nature of his imprisonment during the month which we must suppose to have elapsed since the date of his arrest. It will, however, be seen that he was treated at the prefecture of police with as much consideration as was compatible with the circumstances of personal re- straint. But was he happy? Far, very far from that! His natural courage, noble fortitude, and elevated spirit enabled him to bear up as well as the most heroic of men could do against the misfortune which had overtaken him, but still there were moments when he could scarcely restrain an outburst of bitter anguish as he thought of his much-loved and far-off Louisa. What could she think of a silence so unaccountable and an absence so prolonged? Must she not either believe him false, or else that some terrible calamity had befallen him? In either case, he pictured to himself all the anguish which that charming creature was thus doomed to endure; and it went to his soul to reflect that so young, so lovely, and so affectionate a being should be plunged into such deep distress. GomiiG doo () ‘S (CO)