Alfred de Rosann — page 176: what you’re looking at

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

ALFRED DE ROSANN. 167 which want of sleep had most probably caused. Meurice’s hotel was then in the Rue St. Honoré. Our hero directed his steps towards the fashionable quarter of Paris; and having traversed the Place Vendome, he gained the Boulevards by the Rue de la Paix. The morning was fine—the rays of a jovial sun gilded the thousand towers of the sovereign city of Europe; and all nature seemed blythe and gay. The shops were already opened; but it appeared to our hero, as he advanced along the shady walk which surrounds so considerable a portion of the gay city, that an unusual number of people for such an hour was abroad. At length he noticed many with anxious faces—others bustling backwards and forwards from one house to another—some assuming important airs of mystery—groups here and there gathered together in earnest conversation—a few carrying newspapers in their hands, and stopping their acquaintances to point out a particular paragraph—all this strack De Rosann as singular and alarming. When he arrived at the Porte St. Martin, he turned to retrace his steps—and the mystery, the bustle, and | the agitation were still the same. ‘Some had smiles upon their. countenances—others showed evident signs of terror; one spoke to his neighbour in a tone of energy and vehemence; a second listened with mouth half open and staring eyes; a third rubbed his hands together, as if he were satisfied at a particular occurrence; a fourth endeavoured to repress the swaggering air of the individual with whom he was conversing; a fifth cast anxious looks around; in fine, it was but too evident that the public spirit was labouring under a strong excitement, the cause of which was an enigma our hero could not solve. A secret presentiment of foreboding evil took possession of his mind. He felt an agitation suddenly seize upon him, and he endeavoured in vain to account for it. He experienced little dread as to the eventual success of his suit with Eloise; his property was safe; his person appeared in no danger; and yet he was CORMICGLOOKS (F@)