Alfred de Rosann — page 169: what you’re looking at

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

160 ALFRED DE ROSANN. between himself and the individual in question, whom he had not seen since the day the thousand francs were counted down upon the table. De Rosann thanked Champignon for the information, assured him that Belle-Rose was nothing more than a common cheat, and bade him adieu with many kind wishes in favour. of his speedy success in business. The postilions whipped their horses, Champignon mounted his don- key, and the two equipages separated to pursue their respective directions. | De Rosann was ata loss to conceive whether Belle- Rose had purposely or inadvertently calumniated him in the presence of Mr. Clayton. He did not think his ancient companion was of a malignant disposition : but he knew full well that Belle-Rose seldom opened his lips without uttering an untruth, or exaggerating a trifle till it became an affair of importance. Our hero was moreover aware that Belle-Rose did not know of the engagement subsisting between him and Eloise—unless, indeed, Mr. Clayton had informed him of it during this last visit of the chevalier @in- dustrie to St. Malo. He however persuaded himself that the evil was not irreparable ; he buoyed himself up with the hopes held out by Eloise in her letter ; and he again satisfactorily contemplated the numerous advocates in his favour which he had lately accumu- lated. . Ourreaders may readily supposethaton De Rosann’s arrival at Meurice’s hotel in Paris, the first step he took towards a reconciliation with Mr. Clayton, was to obey the injunctions of Eloise, and write a long letter to the incensed uncle, explaining the circum- stances which were connected with Selina, and of which we have given full and ample accounts in pre- ceding chapters. He detailed undisguisedly the con- fessions of that unfortunate girl—minutely narrated every step he took in the disagreeable and embarras- sing position her love placed him in—and concluded his defence by requesting Mr. Clayton to seek a corroboration from Selina herself, and to inquire of COPMICLOOOK<KSaE)