Penny Blood Serial Cover — page 34: what you’re looking at

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

26 ALFRED DE ROSANN. “ Because,’ continued La Motte, the favourable terms on which we stand with Delisle, Guerin, any Company, must not be changed into coldness by any neglect on our parts. They are our most considerable and important correspondents ; and their transactions with us are alone worth a handsome income.””? “Their orders have come very opportunely then,’ said De Rosann; “for I have many purchases to make in preparation of my approaching marriage; and a little ready money is absolutely necessary, you know, on such occasions.”’ ‘Thank God, the cashierisnot withoutammunition,” cried La Motte ; “and so long as we do business with such extensive mercantile houses as that of Delisle, we need never fear of being in difficulties. On the contrary, our affairs are as flourishing as they well can be.—What say you to a glass of champagne in honour of Messieurs Delisle, Guerin, and Company, of Marseilles ?”’ And this toast was drank with the same enthusiasm as the others. “For many reasons, my dear Alfred,’’ said La Motte, determined not to let the conversation languish, as it is only in much talking that we find an excuse for much drinking, “ you do well to decide upon matrimony. ‘The head of a vast mercantile establish- ment should be a married man; the steadiness of a bachelor is likely to be suspected; and there are a great many people who confound moraf¥ with com- mercial irregularities, and think that it is impossible for a gay young fellow to pay much attention to busi- ness. -You therefore do right, I again repeat, to en- tertain serious ideas of matrimony.”’ “You know that all is nearly settled,” hiccupped De Rosann, whose head began to turn with the effects of the frequent potations he had somewhat too liber- ally indulged—or been induced to indulge in; for his ordinary habits were sobriety and temperance. “ Ha ca! and the wedding-day—is it fixed?” in- COMcoookkS. Conn