Alfred de Rosann — page 171: what you’re looking at

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

162 ALFRED DE ROSANN. on tip-toe, as if she were afraid of disturbing her master. It will be recollected that when Leblond spoke to De Rosann and Belle-Rose through the gwichet of the cachot at Verneuil, the night was dark ‘and all objects were indistinguishable. Alfred did not there- fore know whether he were now in the presence of Leblond or a stranger. But he was not long kept in suspense. The person at the desk soon laid aside his pen, and turned towards our hero, who sate impatiently on his chair, waiting the moment when he wasto give an account of the commission with which he had been charged. | ‘M. Alfred De Rosann, I believe,’’ said the man of business. ‘The same,”’ returned our hero ; “ and you are M. Leblond, I presume.’’ | “You are right. Have you received my last letter, in which I requested you to become the bearer of certain effects—”’ “Y have executed your orders to the best of my endeavour,’ returned De Rosann, interrupting the other, and laying a quantity of papers upon fhe desk. “You have been zealous and diligent in the cause,”’ said Leblond, witha gracious smile, as he cast a hasty glance over the bills which Alfred had brought from » - London ; “and be assured that an ample reward will not be lacking to recompense you for your services.”’ “I have already experienced many kindnesses at your hands,” cried De Rosann; “and I return you my most sincere thanks for the royal pardon you con- descended to procure me.” : “Speak not of such a trifle: your gratitude will shortly be put to a more severe test than perhaps you imagine. ‘The time is nearly at hand when you must prove that benefits are not thrown away upon you, and that you can be trusted in affairs much more im- portant than the one already confided to you.”’ “Show me my duties—point out a means by which I can demonstrate my gratitude, and I shall not be Gomichbooks.com