The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 261: what you’re looking at

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

244 THE COURT OF LONDON conviviality. Now, as it was eleven o’clock before this festival commenced, it was some time past midnight ere it terminated. The prefect and his companions then passed into an adjoining saloon, where the tables were spread with a choice dessert, another and still more rare selection of wines, coffee, and burnt punch. ‘“T thought, my dear friend,’ said the under-secretary of the Interior, addressing the prefect of police, “ that you promised to have that enormously rich English nobleman, the Marquis of Leveson, here to-night? ”’ ‘Such was my intention,” responded the prefect, ‘‘ and I believeit will yet be fulfilled. The marquis 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 us.”’ “Ts 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,’ returned the prefect, with a meaning smile. ‘No doubt Monsieur Jules Martignac is as well acquainted with that business as ourselves,’’ observed one of the pre- fect’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 prefecture 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 mistress? ”’ exclaimed the prefect, laughing. ‘‘ But was there ever such inconstancy as yours! ”’ , ‘Jt is not in my nature to remain long faithful to any woman,” observed Martignac, who was as vain and con- ceited 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 Interior, and therefore I am not entirely acquainted with the object of Lord Leveson’s visit to Paris. An 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 secretary.” CONNIE NCO) KS (EO)