The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 276: what you’re looking at

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

254 THE COURT OF LONDON and the chivalrous nature of him who was shortly to wed the beauteous Louisa. On the second morning after the receipt of this letter another one came from Jocelyn. It was a mourning one, with deep black edges, and with a black seal, but this seal was stamped with aristocratic armorial bearings, sur- mounted by a peer’s coronet. Its contents ran as follows: ‘‘T write a few lines, my dearest Louisa, to say that you may expect me to-morrow. You will perceive by my mourn- ing letter that I have experienced a severe family loss. Such is indeed the case, and this may partially explain to you the circumstances which compelled me in such a hurried manner to pass through Canterbury and repair to London on my arrival in England. I have called at Carlton House, have seen Lord Sackville, and have learned from him that you know all relative to your sister, and that she is now with you. Oh, tell her, dearest Louisa, that it was with the most un- feigned rejoicing I heard from her husband’s lips her resolve to abandon a court life, and equally pleased am I to hear that Lord Sackville himself is firm in the same intention. He and I have shaken hands as men whom marriage will soon place in the light of brothers, and you must tell your sister that she also is to welcome me as a brother when I come to-morrow. Nor less has it been with the purest delight that I have heard of the happy restoration of your excellent aunt to a comparatively perfect state of health. Present my sincerest regards to her. ‘T learn from Lord Sackville that your sister has not as yet revealed to you the secret who I am, but that she has left all explanations on that head to be given by me. Be it so. Present circumstances — circumstances which have indeed greatly changed by the deaths that have plunged me into mourning — have induced me to resume my legitimate standing in society, and this much I will tell you now, dearest Louisa, that the only joy I experience in the possession of rank and wealth is because I can make you, beloved girl, the sharer of both. But all this will be revealed to-morrow. ‘“T shall leave London at such an hour so as to be in Canterbury at three o’clock punctually. At that hour I shall alight at the Fountain Hotel. Perhaps, if you and your EOMMGIOO S (CO) im