The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 53: what you’re looking at

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

CHAPTER V THE TOKENS WE must once more transport our readers to Paris, — that peerless city which not only sets the fashions for the fair sex, but also affords the example of revolutionary glory to all the nations that are downtrampled and enslaved. Three weeks had elapsed since that memorable night on which Julia Owen, under the name of Laura Linden, had brought all the artillery of her wiles and intrigues, her witcheries and her blandishments, to bear upon Jocelyn Loftus in the prison department of the prefecture of police. The reader will recollect that it was an accident which revealed to Jocelyn the identity of the false Laura Linden with the depraved though lovely Julia Owen, and that this sudden discovery was followed by earnest remonstrances on the part of the young gentleman and impassioned en- treaties on that of the young lady. Indeed, in the enthusi- asm to which she worked herself up and with which her mad- dening desires helped to animate her, Julia had threatened to commit suicide unless Jocelyn would consent to crown her hopes and minister to her sensual cravings. Then was it that, in a tone of mingled remonstrance and despair, he exclaimed, ‘‘ Oh, you will drive me mad, you will drive me mad!’ to which the infatuated Julia responded, with all the fervour of devouring passion, ‘‘ Oh, Jocelyn, dear Jocelyn, thou knowest that I love thee! ’’ That same instant Louisa Stanley was alike a listener and a spectatress, and the scream which thrilled from her lips penetrated through Jocelyn’s brain. By the aid of the lamp he looked through the aper- ture in the partition wall, and on recognizing his Louisa, a cry of rage and madness burst from him. All in a moment did he understand what must have been the impression 06 Gomicbdooks (E(@)