The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 273: what you’re looking at

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960 THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. requisition—and he accordingly at once proceeded , mously rich English nobleman, the Marquis of to strike a light. Leveson, here to-night 2” ' The candle was lighted—he held it over the eountenance of the lady who was stretched upon the floor—and an ejaculation burst from his lips ! Heavens—was it indeed possible?—and was the half-suspicion which he had ere now expressed, so signally confirmed? But at that ejaculation which thrilled from his lips, the lady herself opened her eyes—looked up —and then gave vent to a wild cry of mingled dis- appointment, rage, and terror: for she saw that detection had overtaken her sooner than she had purposed or anticipated;—and thus did accident reveal to Jocelyn Loftus the identity of the false Laura Linden with the depraved though beactiful Julia Owen ! CHAPTER LXX. ¢ THE PREFECT AMD HIS GUESTS. We must now inform our readers that on this same memorable. night when Jocelyo Loftus and Laura Linden—dlias Julia OwenSwere thrown toyether, the Prefect of Police entertained a few special friends at a choice supper in the saloon belonging to his own magnificent suite of apart- ments. The Prefect himself was in uniform, he having attended the Legislative Assembly that day in his miuisterial capacity; and the gentlemen whom he was thus reyaling with the elegant little banquet, consisted of his own two Private Secretaries, the Under-Secretary of State for the Department of the Interior, aud three well-dressed young men who had no ostensible profession nor any visible sources of income, but who nevertheless lived well | ta and cat an excellent figure in the French metro- polis. In plain terms, these last mentioned indi- viduals were pensioned spies, or mouchards, secretly attached to the Prefecture of Police. We need hardly say that all the guests thus assembled were Frenchmen; and the conversation flagged not during the meal, as it usually does with Englishmen when similarly employed. On the contrary, the gastronomic proficiency of the Pre- fect’s cook, displayed as it was in substantial specimens of the art now served up on massive ailver dishes, afforded not only delicious food for the palate but also for the discourse. The wines were of the most exquisite description and circa- lated freely: but with true French refinement in apician iudulgence and epicurean luxuriousness, the party lingered a long time over the banquet, drinking the healths of all the most beautiful women of the day, and pledging each other with brimming glasses and fervid pressures of the hand, in the true French style of cordial, heartfelt con- viviality. Now, as it was eleven o'clock before this festival commenced, it was some time past mid- night ere it terminated. The Prefect and his companions then passed into an adjoining saloon where the table was spread with a choice dessert — another and still more rare selection of wines— coffee—and burnt punch. “I thought, my dear friend,” said the Under- Secretary of the Interior, addressing the Prefect ef Police, “that you promised to have that enor- “Such was my intention,” responded the Prefect; “and I believe it will yet be fulfilled. The Mar- quis would have joined us earlier, but is obliged to be at the ball given by the British Ambassador to-night. He however promised that he would get away soon after twelve and then come and join uw—"—— “Is he making a long stay in Paris?” asked the Under-Secretary of State, whose name was Jules Martignac. * He has been here about a fortnight, on business of a somewhat particular and delicate nature,” re- turned the Prefect, with a meaning smile. “No doubt M. Jules Martignac is as well ac- quainted with that business as ourselves,” observed one of the Prefect’s Private Secretaries. “No, indeed I am not,” exclaimed the Under- Secretary of State. “Of course I could be if I chose, inasmuch as there are no secrets at the Pre fecture which are not known at the Ministry of the Interior. But to tell you the truth, I have been so very gay lately——” “Ah! Jules, you have doubtless found a new mis- tress f"” exclaimed the Prefect, laughing. “ But was there ever such inconstancy as vours !” “It is not in my nature to remain long faithful to any woman,” observed Martignac, who was as vain and conceited as he was really handsome in person and elegant in manners. “But I was telling you that I have not lately had time to look over the secret reports from the Prefecture to the Ministry of the Ioterior—and therefore [ am not entirely acquainted with the object of Lord Leveson’s visit to Paris. Au inkling thereof I have gleaned, it is true, from what has been said in my presence on two or three occa sions, by the Minister and his Confidential Secie- “Well,” exclaimed the Prefect, who from the first moment he sate down fo table with his friends, had thrown off all official reserve, and who now laughed heartily at the thoughts which the present discuarse had conjured upin his mind,—“ with regard to Lord Leveson’s visit to Paris, I can safely say that of all the amusing incidents which ever came to my know- ledge, certain matters involved in this affair are the most eminently diverting !” “I presume bis lordship's visit to our gay capital,” said Jules Martignac, “is in some way or another connected with the mission of those three young English ladies —the Misses Owen, I mean—who were appointed to proceed to Italy in order to occupy certain situations about the person of her Royal Highness the Princess Caroline f” “That is to say, the wife of the present Prince Re- gent of England,” added one of the gentlemen- spies. “ Precisely so,” continued the Prefect. “ Well, and then these three girls—these Misses Owen—fall in with a certain young gentleman calling himself Jocelyn Loftus: and he, with more gentrous candour than astute discretion, tells them io plain terms that he has embarked in the Quixotic enterprise of thwarting all their schemes and preventing them from proceeding to Italy to fulfil their mission.” “The insensate Englishman!" exclaimed Jules Martignac. “ But after all, whether he had thus re- vealed his purposes tothe young ladies, or not, would scarcely have signified im the long run: for the mo- ELDO© i Oi SS Sa rE a SS Sr creepy SS SS 7 SSS PS SS CO