Alfred de Rosann — page 141: what you’re looking at

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

132 ALFRED DE ROSANN. intended departure. Our’ hero concluded that his former companion was once more pushed for a little ready money, and he made all possible haste to leave the hotel before the self-styled Count might take it into his head to call again. But despite of all his despatch it was past seven o’clock in the evening before he ascended the steps of the post-chaise that was to bear him away from London. CHAPTER XIII. THE JOURNEY. Iv was ten o’clock before De Rosann arrived at Bagshot. ‘The night was stormy and tempestuous ; the wind howled fearfully along the dismal road which runs across the heath ; the rain pattered: against the windows of the post-chaise with the force of hail- stones ; the moon was concealed by dense clouds ; not a star appeared upon the face of heaven ; all was dark and sombre. When the blast blew violently, it resembled the rush of a mighty torrent ; and when its vigour relaxed at intervals, it seemed like the agonizing groans of a human being ere his life be rendered up to the ferocity of the murderer. The lamps of the carriage threw but a partial and glim- mering light a few paces in front : the thunder rolled occasionally over-head with awful din; and the light- ning, from time to time, broke upon the obscurity of nature in vivid flashes, as evanescent as they were bright. Still De Rosann did not repent having left London during such weather: he was anxious to return to his native land, and ascertain the fate that. awaited him, according to the decision which Eloise’s mother should pronounce, and which he had eyery reason to hope would be favourable. (c©) S O KelLOOO KS Xeon nam