Alfred de Rosann — page 21: what you’re looking at

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

12 | ALFRED DE ROSANN. he has a cousin or an uncle at St. Malo; and his culi- nary talents will always provide him with the means of subsistence. If you concur in my opinion, I will speak to him myself, and we shall continue to travel alone together, as before.’’ ‘‘ Be it so,”’ returned Belle-Rose, “and use despatch; for we must soon think of resuming our march,”’ De Rosann accordingly sought Champignon in the vicinity of the dairy; and at length found him holding forth to Louis Dorval—whom he retained by the | 'button-hole—on the excellencies of cofelettes a la guadrille. The poor farmer understood but one-half of the rhodomontade uttered by Champignon, and was unable to conceal his delight when the appear- ance of De Rosann put an end to the lecture; for the gastronomer, oblivious in the heat of argument that: his hands were covered with flour, had imprinted various white marks on the coat and waistcoat of his unwilling pupil, who did not dare exhibit the slightest impatience or ill-humour, being totally ignorant as to what degree of intimacy the self-dubbed cook might claim with an individual that had given proofs of an unbounded munificence towards himself. De Rosann drew Champignon aside; explained to him, ina few words, that he and Belle-Rose had ¢er- tain reasons for being desirous of travelling alone; and placed a bill for five hundred franes in his hand. The ex-restaurateur opened his eyes with the most stupid astonishment at this instance of generosity on the part of one whom he had only known for a short time, and endeavoured to mutter a sentence expressive of his _ gratitude; but, failing in the attempt, he pulled off his night-cap, made a respectful bow, and stood staring like an owl on his benefactor; till at length De Rosann was obliged to turn away, to avoid bursting out into a violent fit of laughter. Champignon followed our hero to the dairy, and wished both him and Belle- Rose a prosperous journey, with tears in his eyes, add- ing, “that the next time they met, he hoped to have the pleasure of cooking them a dish of his newly- invented cutlets.”’ | Gomichbooksr.eom