The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 65: what you’re looking at

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

48 THE COURT OF LONDON After breakfast next morning he was about to pen a note to the prefect when the door opened and that functionary entered the room. The old nurse immediately withdrew, and the moment she had retired, the prefect addressed him- self to Jocelyn in the following manner: ‘By this morning’s post I have received a letter from London. It is to the effect that from something which has transpired within the last week or ten days it is deemed expedient no longer to insist upon that clause in the bond which forbids your alliance with Miss Louisa Stanley.” “Ah!” ejaculated Loftus, in astonishment, ‘‘ what could have transpired to have produced this change of opinion upon that point? Your Excellency can surely speak with more openness and less enigma than heretofore. Indeed, I know full well that the Marquis of Leveson is at the bottom of all this.” “Well, then,’’ observed the prefect, hastily, “it does appear from the letter I have received this morning that his lordship has learned something which has induced him to alter his mind very materially concerning this matrimonial project of yours. But whether it be that Miss Louisa Stanley turns out to be more highly connected than he had at first supposed, or whether she has suddenly proved the heiress to a fortune, I am of course utterly unable to conjecture. Suffice it for you to know that this particular clause in the bond is withdrawn; and I will take it upon myself to erase the stipulatio:n which requires your submission and obedience to the Marquis of Leveson. It now therefore only remains for you to sign your assent to that clause which sacredly and solemnly pledges you to abstain from any interference in the affairs of the Princess of Wales, to bury in oblivion all that you may have ever learned upon that subject, and to pursue your future career as if no such details had ever come to your knowledge.” ‘“T have listened to your Excellency with varied feelings of interest,’’ said Jocelyn, in a firm and deliberate tone. “ That an assent should now be given to my union with Miss Louisa Stanley is so far agreeable inasmuch as it can only be a tribute of admiration and respect accorded to her beauty and her virtues; for that she has suddenly discovered any high connections or become possessed of a fortune I do Gomicbdooks (E(@)