Alfred de Rosann by G.W.M. Reynolds — page 117: what you’re looking at

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

96 Alfred de Rosann. his eye! Nota doubt that these were the documents of which Francois made mention in his tale, remained in his mind; and he hailed the possession of those papers with an internal satisfaction, and a feeling of delight, that he could not account for. His first impulse was to sit down and decypher one of the letters, for such the documents proved to be: but at that moment a voice within him appeared to ask, ‘‘If he were justified in perusing those papers, and in retaining possession of them? Was he certain no relative to the deceased marquis still existed ? and if there were any surviving scions of the ancient family, would it not be a robbery to withhold deeds that were perhaps important?” These reflections made De Rosann hesitate; and then the fear that Belle-Rose might awake and suspect the nature of his occupation, determined him to refrain from satisfying his curiosity, at least for the present. He accordingly divided the papers into two or three parcels, concealed them about his person, and carefully burnt the parchment which had enveloped them, as well as a few scraps where the writing was totally illegible, or where there had never been any. No sooner had De Rosann concluded this arrangement, than a strange suspicion entered his mind that Belle-Rose was not asleep. He gently approached the bed, and gazed upon the features of his companion ; but not the slightest evidence appeared to support the supposition. Belle-Rose slumbered tranquilly on his pillow—De Rosann coughed somewhat loudly —and the noise produced no effect. Our heroaccordingly retreated towards his own couch, satisfied that Belle-Rose did not feign the deep sleep in which he was apparently wrapped. And now a long train of reflections was again awakened in the mind of De Rosann. Two circumstances appeared to exercise a vast influence over his future fortunes. The documents he had just possessed himeelf of, and the secret service in which he was engaged, were the arbiters of his destiny. But what was that secret service ? who was Leblond? and where were the all-seeing, the omniscient powers he was engaged to serve? Inthe most civilised country on the face of the earth, andin an enlightened age, a species of free- masonry appeared to exist, which could control the actions of the functionaries of the government itself—whicb could eman- cipate criminals and the condemned at will—which, with influence as great as it was Invisible, could protect its uotaries in the far-off provinces, and which slumbered in tranquillity and safety like the train in the terrible mine, which will shortly explode and involve in ruin those beneath whose very feet it has long been working unsuspected and secure. But the more De Rosann pondered upon this subject, the more was he lost in conjecture and doubt; a strange presentiment, however, told him that his own destinies were to be worked out by those of others; and all his bewildcred mind could resolve upon was to follow the stream of that fate which would either carry him onward to success and fortune or to a condition of woe and despair. ECONlNCOOOlKS.CO