The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 277: what you’re looking at

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

250 THE COURT OF LONDON him for a very long time in custody would be to stand the risk of incurring great scandal; the thing might get men- tioned by some opposition member in the Legislative Chamber, and the enemies of the government would make much of it. Therefore, as the marquis reasoned, what scheme could be better than to inveigle the young man within the circle of those temptations to which he was more likely to become susceptible in a state of captivity than when free? ‘ He must be looked upon as a serpent whose sting is his virtue,’ said the marquis; ‘let us rob him of that sting, and we render him powerless. We may thus defy him, whereas at present he is dangerous to a degree.’ Thus reasoned the Marquis of Leveson; and I not only understood his views, but cheerfully consented to assist them to the utmost of my power. Julia Owen was to be the temptress to allure the young man from the pinnacle of his lofty virtue; she was the sorceress whose spells were to entice him from the pedestal of his exalted chivalry. The first step in the singular drama was therefore to assign her to the chamber next to Jocelyn. This was done, and the girl entered with romantic delight upon the task, all the details and arrangements of which she promptly planned and chalked out. Knowing that it was vain to endeavour to work at once upon his animal passions, she resolved to appeal to his refined and delicate sentiments. She there- fore purposed to introduce herself to him in the light of a heroine, secure his admiration, win his confidence, and thus establish herself firmly in his favour before she allowed him to discover who she really was. The charwoman who waits upon the prisoners in that gallery was secretly ordered by me to further the designs of Miss Julia to the utmost of her power. To be brief, a variety of implements were supplied the young lady, to enable her to excavate an aperture in the wall, so that she might obtain entrance into Jocelyn’s apartment. She would thus appear before him as his good genius, the heroine of an adventure promising escape for himself as well as for her.”’ ‘“ Ah! then she would be revealing herself too abruptly,’ exclaimed Martignac, ‘‘ and before she was well assured of obtaining a strong hold on his confidence.” ‘All this was well weighed, considered, and calculated beforehand,” returned the prefect; ‘‘ and, as a heroine (COU (Q) DoOaks (E(0)