Alfred de Rosann by G.W.M. Reynolds — page 230: what you’re looking at

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

Alfred de Rosann. 199 unavoidable delays, upon which it is not our intention to dwell, De Rosann could not receive the money until four o’clock in the afternoon, when he was obliged to proceed to the city a second time to fetch it and sign a receipt. But in the interval between his two visits, we must notice that a gentleman honoured our hero with a call, and, not finding him at home, took the trouble to wait at least a quarter of an hour, expecting his return. De Rosann questioned the waiter as to the age, dress, and principal characteristics of the person who had exhibited such uncommon politeness, and found, by the answers he received to his enquiries, that the individual in question could have been no other than Belle-Rose. The waiter, moreover, added, that the visitor appeared astonished when he was informed of De Rosann’s intended departure. Our hero concluded that his former companion was once more pushed for a little ready money, and he made all possible haste to leave the hotel before the self-styled Count might take it into his head to call again. But despite of all his dispatch, if was past seven o'clock in the evening before he ascended the steps of the post-chaise that was to bear him away from London. CHAPTER XXVIII. THE JOURNEY. It was ten o'clock before De Rosann arrived at Bagshot. The night was stormy and tempestuous; the wind howled fearfully along the dismal road which runs across the heath; the rain pattered against the windows of the post-chaise with the force of ail-stones; the moon was concealed by dense clouds; not a star appeared upon the face of heaven; all was dark and sombre. When the blast blew violently, it resembled the rush of a mighty torrent ; and when its vigour relaxed at intervals, it seemed like the agonizing groans of a human being ere his life be rendered up to the ferocity of the murderer. The lamps of the carriage threw but a partial and ghmmering hight a few paces in front: the thunder rolled occasionally over-head with awful din; and the lightning, from time to time, broke upon the obscurity of nature in vivid flashes, as evanescent as they were bright. Still De Rosann did not repent having left London during such weather: he was anxious to return to his native land, and ascertain the fate that awaited him, according to the decision which Eloise’s mother should pronounce, and which he had every reason to hope would be favourable. At Bagshot, De Rosann opened the window of the post-chaise for a moment, and called the postillion to the door. He did not attempt to make him understand his meaning by 1.ere words, be- cause, of all people in the world, an English post-boy is about the last whom a rational being would expect to speak French: but money has a persuasive eloquence peculiar to itself; and an extra half-crown, paid before-hand, on this occasion produced the desired COnicbooolks (GO)