Alfred de Rosann — page 23: what you’re looking at

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

14 ALFRED DE ROSANN. — or whether the race of Denneville be entirely extinct. It is therefore my duty to take cognizance of papers which the hand of Providence has apparently thrown In my way; and I will act according to their con- tents.’’ These just and proper reflections, decided our hero to peruse the documents in question ; and when the porter returned, with notes of the bank of France for a thousand francs each, in lieu of the effects that had been placed in his hands, De Rosann desired to be shown to a bed-room, under pretence of taking an hour’s repose ; and having carefully locked the door, he seated himself at a table, on which he spread the mysterious papers. We have before stated that they were letters, and that many had escaped the attacks of vermin and the ravages of time. De Rosann sought for the one that bore the oldest date, so as to read them in a proper order ; and applied himself atten- tively to its examination. but scarcely had his eyes ruo over the first ten words, when he uttered an ex- clamation of astonishment, and struck his forehead forcibly with his hand, as if in doubt whether he were awakeor dreaming. He then appeared to rumi- nate for a few minutes ere he continued the perusal of a document which had thus created his wonder. At length he started from his reverie, drew the letters near him once more, and hastened to accomplish his task. | As his eyes ran over each successive line, his at- tention became more deeply rivetted to the papers, and his interest more essentially excited. At one moment a partial gloom would pervade his features ; at another a joyous ray illuminated his countenance. He seemed the victim of mingled hope and fear, joy and sorrow, anticipation and dread. Letter after letter was consecutively scanned and laid aside—not a word had escaped his scrutiny ; and only one epistle remained unread. His anxiety now appeared worked up to an extraordinary pitch ; for some moments he almost hesitated whether to conclude his task, or Gomichbooks.com