Alfred de Rosann by G.W.M. Reynolds — page 19: what you’re looking at

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

10 Alfred de Flosann. to carry on the business that had acquired it. This.command, which was almost made a condition 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 Mar- shals; he dreamt and thought of nothing but battles and sanguinary conflicts. But there was now no field open to the enthusiastic young man; and a 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 imagined 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 negiected it more and more, till at last the very sight of a edger made him turn away in unfeigned disgust. ne morning an old friend of the late merchant called upon De Rosann, and solicited his attention for a few 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 ruin- ous state of your affairs. 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 endorsement to a bill does not give it the slightest additional value ; your credit is suffering hourly. For God’s sake, before it be too late, investigate your affairs; 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 indifference has already caused, there still remains a remedy ; for it is impossible that in the space of six months your fortune can be irretrievably compromised. You know I do not speak from inter- ested 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 [ shall be the first to come forward and congratulate the son of him for whom I en- tertained 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. 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 part- nership 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 * ‘The Exchange. COnicbooolks (GO)