Alfred de Rosann by G.W.M. Reynolds — page 35: what you’re looking at

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

22 Alfred de Rosann. against the prisoner; but that the opinion was coupled with a strong recommendation to mercy, as there were many extenuating and even doubtful circumstances connected with the whole transaction. The judges then whispered together for some time; and at length the President pronounced the definitive sentence of the court, which found De Rosann guilty of the crime laid to his charge; but on account of his youth, of many circumstances in his favour, and of the recommendation of the jury, the severe penalty of the law, the full force of which had been demanded by the public minister, was com- muted to a milder punishment ; and De Rosann was condemned to ten years’ hard labour in the criminal prisons of Brest. When the awful annunciation met his ears, the unfortunate youth fainted in Mr. Clayton’s arms; and was borne, rather than conducted back to his dungeon in a state bordering on distraction. But the worthy uncle of Eloise whispered comfort in his ear; he assured him that so far as it regarded himself, he was not only convinced of his young friend’s innocence, but that he would ever dissuade his niece from contracting another engagement; and he knew Mrs. Clayton's maternal affection too well to suppose that she would force her daughter’s inclination in so delicate a matter. These words consider- ably soothed the mind of the unfortunate Alfred; and the kind- hearted Mr. Clayton even went so far as to promise that he would occasionally accompany Eloise to visit her lover for a few moments in his miserable cell. The gratitude of De Rosann’s wounded soul was beyond all expression: he thanked his benefactor a thousand times, and hope kindled a feeble flame in his bosom where all hitherto was darkness and obscurity. And Eloise did visit De Rosann in his dungeon; and she promised an eternal fidelity; and her last words, ere she left him, called heaven to witness the oath of unchangeable affection which she thus solemnly ledged. Amongst the brilliant circle of acquaintances and friends that the now forsaken Alfred once adorned, was a nobleman of high rank, who enjoyed a lucrative situation near the person of the king. To him did Mr. Clayton address a petition in behalf of De Rosann. The nobleman generously undertook to interest himself in the cause of a fellow-creature in whose Innocence he himself believed; and the royal mercy was not solicited in vain. Charles X., with all his faults, was not of a cruel nor uncompromising disposition: he instantly lent an attentive ear to the prayer that was offered up before his throne; and the sentence of De Rosann was commuted to a so- journ of five years instead of ten at the galleys. Eloise accompanied Mr. Clayton—but of course these visits were unknown to her mother: it was the first secret the innocent maiden had ever concealed from the knowledge of her only parent; and even now her repugnance to act against that parent’s wishes was scarcely overcome by the reasoning of her uncle, whose heart was not obdurate enough to deprive two fond lovers of each other’s society, and whose conviction of Alfred’s innocence made him act a generous part towards the unhappy young man—FEloise accompanied Mr. Clayton to Bicétre (whither De Rosann had been removed a few days previously) to be COnicbooolks (GO)