Alfred de Rosann by G.W.M. Reynolds — page 245: what you’re looking at

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

212 Alfred de Rosann. ‘¢ She was very pretty, eh?” again interrupted the uncle. ‘© A beautiful creature,” returned Belle-Rose: ‘and between ourselves—I have not the pleasure of knowing your name—De Rosann is no bad judge. But, as I was saying, the old people would not consent—a dreadful scene ensued—Miss Selina fainting, and Alfred threatening to cut his throat. Even I, his best and most intimate friend, his confidant throughout the whole affair— even I was unable to pacify him.” ‘¢ ‘Was he so much attached to her ?”’ ‘¢ He loved her certainly very sincerely—but he loved her money more.” ‘¢ And wherefore is he coming back to France?” ‘‘ Because he has met with a repulse that he cannot easily forget,” answered Belle-Rose. ‘¢ Thank you for your information—for the news, M. Belle-Rose : I wish you a very good afternoon:” and without waiting to give the other an opportunity of returning his salutation, the wrathful uncle turned abruptly away. Nothing could exceed Mr. Clayton’s indignation. He felt the blow the more deeply, inasmuch as he fancied he had been the innocent means of deluding his niece with false hopes, and of re- plying to letters filled with perjury, deceit, and falsehood. De Rosann, he thought, never could have loved Eloise save for interested motives ; and he resigned her for the first wealthy youn lady he met. Now that his speculation with Miss Robson had failed, he was doubtless about tu return to France to prosecute his suit in another quarter. But Mr. Clayton was determined he should not succeed; and he only repented not having listened to the advice of his sister-in-law fon ago. That Belle-Rose could have so grossly deceived him, he did not for one moment suspect ; and he returned home in a humour so singularly composed of disappoint- ment, indignation, shame, and grief, that he knew not whether to begin with a curse or a sigh. Eloise and her mother were in the drawing-room, when Mr. Clayton entered, and they both uttered an exclamation of alarm at the same moment; for his altered countenance wore so extraordi- nary an expression, that they were fearful some accident had be- fallen him. . ¢¢ Tis all over!” he cried, throwing his hat with violence on the table, and flinging himself into a chair. “ All confidence in man- kind is for ever atan end. Were my own father alive and here to tell me he would do so-and-so, I would not believe him.” ‘Good God! William,” cried Mrs. Clayton, ‘‘has any thing happened ?” s¢ De Rusann—” ‘¢ De Rosann—oh! what of him?” cried Eloise, her heart sink- ing within her, for she anticipated some dreadful tidings relative to her lover. ‘¢De Rosann is a villain!” cried Mr. Clayton in a voice of thander. ‘¢ Speak, uncle—speak! what has he done? Oh hasten and COnicbooolks (GO)