Alfred de Rosann — page 56: what you’re looking at

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

ALFRED DE ROSANN. 47 benefactor, a friend, an intimate acquaintance. Selina thanked him “for his handsome conduct” in the name of her mother and sister, as they were totally ignorant of the French language ; and she recounted to him, with a few innocent additions to increase its ludicrous aspect, the mistake made by Mr. Goldsmith and Mr. Jenkins. Alfred laughed till the tears ran down his cheeks ; but he expressed his sorrow that the worthy geniuses were not suffered to remain in their happy state of ignorance concerning the truth of the matter. Before the hour of departure arrived, Mr. Robson drew De Rosann aside, and commenced a topic pecu- liarly interesting to our hero. “T received a visit from the Count d’kulsigny yes- terday afternoon,’ said he; “ but I suspect that he is ~ about as much entitled to that rank as you or I.’’ ¢¢ Perhaps so,’”? remarked Alfred, without manifest- ing any signs of embarrassment, having made up his | mind how to act relative to Belle-Rose. ‘But that is immaterial,’? continued the banker: “the object-of his visit is the essential point.” | “Did he entrust you with the documents ?’’ in- quired De Rosann. ah ‘You shall hear. He called upon me, according to appointment, and stated his business; of which I, of course, in the first instance affected a profound ignorance. Having furnished me with a_ verbal analysis of the contents of the documents he held in his possession, he desired to know whether I consider- ed myself empowered to hand him over the property of the late Marquis de Denneville, upon his furnishing me with a receipt, or any other security of the kind which I might require. My reply was to the effect, that I must peruse the deeds before I could give an answer. He hesitated,—and by a subtle turn endea- youred to ascertain whether any person had lately applied to me concerning the same affair. I settled his skilfully managed interrogations by an evasion, and again requested him to entrust me with the papers EOPMICLOO S (EO)