Penny Blood Serial Cover — page 27: what you’re looking at

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

‘ALFRED DE ROSANN, 19 God’s sake, before it be too late, investigate your af- fairs; discharge those idle clerks who neglect your business, and rob you at the same time; and place some person, in whom you can depend, at the head of your business. Great as is the evil your culpable in- difference has already caused, there still remains a _ remedy; for it is impossible that in the space of six months your fortune can be irretrievably compro- mised. You know I do not speak from interested motives; my friendship for your late revered father alone dictates the sentiments I utter: but to prove to you that I have no ulterior object, I shall now retire, and endeavour to avoid meeting you until I hear that you have followed my advice, when I shall be the first to come forward and congratulate the son of him for whom I entertained the greatest respect.’’ With these words the generous old man hastily arose from the chair on which he was seated, and left the room before De Rosann could find a syllable to utter in reply, so deep an impression had the above severe truths made upon his mind. But when he had recalled his scattered ideas, he inwardly thanked the friend who had given him such excellent advice; and he determined not to lose an instant before he followed it. eet: In the midst of his ruminations he recollected that a merchant, of the name of La Motte, had a few weeks before made overtures of partnership to him; and he immediately conceived the idea of requesting this individual, whom he had always heard spoken of as an upright and trust-worthy man, to assist him in the examination of the state of his affairs. ‘‘ Should the result be satisfactory,’’ said Alfred to himself, ‘we will then discourse on the possibility of an asso- ciation together. Our two establishments blended into one, and conducted by La Motte as the mana- ging partner, cannot fail of experiencing a signal suc- cess; and_.in so doing, I shall not only fulfil the wishes . of my father, but shall consult my own tastes at the same time. La Motte has the reputation of an hon- CoOmicoooks