The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 130: what you’re looking at

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116 siasm of the heart’s profoundest devotion. “ If any- thing had been wanting to convince me of the generosity of your nature—the kindness of your disposition—and the delicate tenderness of your feelings, the proof would now be afforded me. With your concurrence, then, my well-beloved, I will to-morrow set off for the Continent :—the Princess is now, I believe, in Italy—but my jour- ney shall be rapid—my mission executed with promptitude—and my return as expeditious as possible.” “ Yes—we must consent to separate thus for a short time,” said Louisa, as she fell upon Jocelyn’s neck and gave free vent to her feelings. They now separated—the young gentleman tak- ing an affectionate leave of the charming maiden, but with a promise to be at the cottage soon after nine o'clock in the morning. He repaired to the hotel in Canterbury to which the post-chaise had already taken his portmanteau; and retiring to rest, the slumber that visited his eyes was serene and pleasant, not only from the consciousness of duties fulfilled or good intentions planned, but also because the image of his Louisa appeared to visit him in his dreams and shed upon him the holy influence of her sweetest smiles. On the ensuing morning Jocelyn Loftus rose early: and the Cathedral clock was proclaiming the hour of eight as he knocked at the door of the Minor Canon’s residence. To his inquiry whether the Reverend Bernard Audley could be seen so early upon business of importance, the domestic answered in the affirmative; and he was at once conducted into a back parlour where the Canon was seated at breakfast. He started and turned pale on beholding Jocelyn Loftus: but instantly recovering himself, he assumed an air of the blandest courtesy as he requested him to be seated. Jocelyn bowed with cold hauteur, and remained standing, “Mr. Audley,” he said, in a firm and impressive tone, “the words I have to address to you are few —but I pray that they may receive your earnest attention now and your fullest consideration here- after. I returned last evening to Canterbury, and learnt with what amount of indignation, ab- horrence, and disgust, you may perhaps be able to conceive, the atrocious outrage perpetrated by you against an innocent, gentle, and virtuous young lady. Were you to experience at my hands the treatment you merit, an uncompromising exposure would take place, and the Archbishop would at once be led to deal with you according to your deserts. Or perhaps the civil authorities might be appealed to, and the power of the magistrate be called into requisition to show the Honourable and Reverend Bernard Audley that neither his patri- cian connexions nor his holy garb can protect him when he violates the law. But Ido not wish to create a scandal upon the present occasion. Several reasons prompt me to deal mercifully with you. The first is an anxiety to spare the already too much outraged feelings of Miss Louisa Stanley the necessity of undergoing any further pain by introducing her into a court of justice. The second is because a lady who is your vietim,”—and Jocelyn bent his looks significantly upon the Minor Canon, who quailed beneath them,—* has appenicd to Miss Louisa Stanley’s mercy on your -——--- ee eee ——-_ ~~ + a et - - THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. behalf. There are other motives which prompt me to exercise forbearance: but those I have specified are the principal inducements. And now, sir, am I to expect that you will henceforth leave Miss Stanley unmolested, during the short time that she may continue to dwell at her present residence ?” “Mr. Loftus,” said the Minor Canon, veiling all the darkest passions of his soul beneath an aspect of assumed humility and contrition,—“ I am fully aware that you are treating me more mercifully than I deserve. Ishallsay nothing about my sor- row—my repentance—for what has passed———” “ Of repentance I do not believe you susceptible, sir,” exclaimed Jocelyn, sternly. “God forbid that I should allege without reason that any man’s heart is thoroughly hardened: but the conversa- tion which I one evening accidentally overheard in the Cathedral cloisters between yourself and that unfortunate lady——” * For heaven’s sake, allude to it not, Mr. Loftus f° cried the Canon, in a tone of piercing entreaty. “The walls have ears—you may be overheard mn *‘ Alas! that men, especially the ministers of the Gospel, should be guilty of deeds that bear not mention even in a whisper!” said Jocelyn, with a © strong accentuation upon his words. sir, that from the conversation which took place in “But I fear, | the cloister, and to which I have referred, your — heart is utterly steeled against every principle of honour and integrity—and that it is not accessible to repentance! Nay, more—if the dark allusions and mysterious hints which I then overheard, and which passed between yourself and that unhappy woman who is doubtless the same that rescued Miss Louisa Stanley from your power,—if those allusions, I say, were to be duly weighed and con- sidered, would they not point to some crime where- of you have been guilty ?” “ Mr. Loftus, you dare not draw such an infer- ence from the ravings of a mad woman!” ex- claimed the Minor Canon, vehemently. — “JT do not choose to be uncharitable, sir—nor to suffer even my own secret thoughts to exaggerate the impressions which they receive. But a less cautious person than myself would draw strange and even terrible deductions from the deliberate accusations and measured upbraidings which you now term the ravings of ademented female, No, sir—that lady who is your victtm, has not lost the use of her senses: she possesses them with an acuteness and a keenness that render her wrongs intolerable to think of. However, sir,” exclaimed Jocelyn, “I will not dwell upon that subject. My principal aim in visiting you, was to declare that if you should again attempt the slightest molestation towards Miss Louisa Stanley, the authorities shall be appealed to—all I know or suspect concerning you shall be unhesitatingly made public—and, while your gown is torn from your back, your cha- racter shall be held up to universal scorn and execration.” Having thus spoken, Jocelyn Loftus bowed coldly and quitted the room, leaving the Minor Canon a prey to all the blackest feelings of rage, hatred, malignity, and vindictiveness that ever boiled like a lava-stream in the heart of man. It was nine o’clock when Jocelyn reached the cottage, where he was welcomed by his beloved Louisa and Mary Owen. He sate down to break- ———————— cS, ee ORCI OO: (E (0)