Penny Blood Serial Cover — page 26: what you’re looking at

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

18 ALFRED DE ROSANN. demonstrated towards their fair charge; as Alfred was to all appearance an eligible suitor for her hand. Alfred De Rosann was the only son of a rich mer- chant, who, dying at an advanced age, left him a handsome fortune, with strict injunctions to carry on the business that had acquired it. This command, which was almost madeacondition of his inheritance to the entire property in his father’s will, did not suit the tastes nor the ambition of De Rosann. He burned to distinguish himself in the military profession; he had read with enthusiasm the history of Napoleon and his Marshals; he dreamt and thought of nothing but bat- tles and sanguinary conflicts. But there was now no field open to the enthusiastic young man; anda sense of duty moreover compelled him to renounce all ideas of entering into the army. He deplored, while he obeyed the dying mandates of his departed sire, and strove to forget his visionary glories and ima- gined laurels in the bustle of a counting-house. For some time he applied himself with diligence to his affairs; and his business appeared to prosper. But distaste for the drudgery of an office soon made him less attentive; he allowed himself frequent holi- days, entrusted the management of his house into bad hands, and gradually neglected it more and more, till at last the very sight of a ledger made him turn away in unfeigned disgust. One morning an old friend of the late merchant called upon De Rosann, and solicited his attention for afew moments. The youth listened with respect, and his visitor spoke as follows:— , “ My dear Alfred, it is with pain and affliction that I see the ruinous state of youraffairs. There is not a merchant on the Bourse* of a day, who does not shake his head and shrug up his shoulders when the name of your establishment is mentioned. Your en- dorsement to a bill does not give it the slightest addi- tional value; your credit is suffering hourly. — For * The Exchange. Ccommicloooks, conn