Alfred de Rosann — page 94: what you’re looking at

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

ALFRED DE ROSANN. 85 * How—what !?? exclaimed Markham, delighted at having an excuse to bully ; “ do you mean to insinuate that you stand a chance of losing the few paltry pounds I owe you ?” | “I think that nothing is more probable,’’ answered our hero with the same imperturbable coolness. “You are no gentleman !’’ shouted Markham. ‘““ And you are a sharper !”? returned Alfred gently: “but Ido not choose to disturb the tranquillity of this hospitable mansion—our kind hosts must not regret the invitation they have vouchsafed to me, at least ; there is my address, sir,’? continued De Rosann, throwing a card upon the table; “may I solicit your’s ?”’ Markham hastily complied with our hero’s request, or, rather, command, and shortly after withdrew in the greatest_possible confusion ; while all admired and expressed their approbation of the gentlemanly con- duct of the young Frenchman. But what had become of Belle-Rose? The mo- ment he saw that his friend had lost the game, he gave his waistcoat-pocket one tan. with his fingers, to convince himself that it was empty, and suddenly made his escape from the écaréé-table. Arrived at the door of the room set apart exclusively to dancing, he found the passage barred by the ladies and gentle- men occupied ina guadrille ; and all hopes of passing round, without treading on the. toes of the old dow- agers and maiden aunts, who sate in solemn state against the walls to witness the amusements of “ the young people,”’.were totally vain. Belle-Rose was therefore obliged to wait at the door, which formed the communication between the card-room and the dancing-room, until the guadril/e was finished. In about a minute he felt his arm slightly pulled ; and turning hastily round, saw nimself confronted by a gentleman, whose nose supported an immense pair of gold spectacles, and whose face he recollected to have seen peering over the shoulders of the loiterers round the card-table. VOL. I1.—8 EORiclooo S (C@