Alfred de Rosann — page 174: what you’re looking at

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

ALFRED CE ROSANN. 165 taken place during the interview with the mysterious agent of mysterious superiors. But it was in vain that he endeavoured to fix his sole thoughts upon that topic: the image of the beau- tiful Eloise perpetually intervened, and changed the current of his ideas. He could never sufficiently ad- mire the generous disposition of the heroic girl, that refused to listen to the calumniating tongues which were anxious to asperse the character of her lover, and separate them forever. He called to mind all her former tenderness and unquestionable attachment when, in an hour of peril and distress, he was the in- mate of a gloomy dungeon. Now that fortune smiled upon him, and prosperity, with a bland coun- tenance, seemed to beckon him forward to eventual success, he was determined to evince his gratitude and unchangeable affection to his beloved Eloise, and de- vote every instant of his time to promote her felicity,so soon as he could obtain a legal right to declare him- self her protector and friend. And he felt that he should be proud in presenting such a faultless bride to the numerous acquaintances who would soon flock. round him, when the tongue of fame had proclaimed his return to Paris, his innocence, his pardon, and his independence. CORMICLOOOL< (E@)