Alfred de Rosann by G.W.M. Reynolds — page 46: what you’re looking at

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

Alfred de Rosann. 33 CHAPTER V. BELLE-ROSE AND CHAMPIGNON. Tux storm, which for many hours had threatened to burst above the convicts’ heads, and which was impelled by a north-easterly breeze in the same direction pursued by them, towards mid-day commenced with appalling violence. Deluges of rain drenched the wretched malefactors and their guards to the skin, ere a ruined shed could afford them a partial shelter. The thunder rolled along the face of heaven in long, loud, and frequent claps ; and the lightning followed each of those celestial cannon with vivid flashes. There needed but the earthquake to have made the war of elements complete. The Gendarmes and the galley-slaves huddled together without respect for persons, the former now pressing close to the latter, whose very contiguity a few minutes before, they would have deemed in- fectious. But the dilapidated barn, which formed their present refuge, was too much circumscribed as to space, to allow so many individuals to be greatly at their ease. The vulgar adage of “ Any port in a storm” was never better practised than on this occasion. The Gendarmes of France form without a doubt the first body of lice in the world. Their well-caparisoned horses are invariably in much better condition than those belonging to the regular cavalry. Their uniform is also simple and elegant at the same time; and their appearance far more military than many of the horse regi- ments. In Paris they wear the bear-skin cap that usually dignifies the grenadier; in the departments this unwieldy head-dress is sup- plied by a neat cocked hat, worn ‘‘ athwart-ships.” They are more- over peculiarly clean in their persons—their sabres as well polished as a Parisian looking-glass—their aiguillettes as white as snow. There is not a speck of dirt upon their yellow belts, nor a mark of grease on their well-brushed blue coats. Their rey trowsers, with road red stripes descending from the waist to the boot, appear as if they had only just left the tailor’s shop; and the fierce mous- tachio and the thick whisker give an additional warlike air to their fine persons. They are as remarkable for their civility to individuals who are fortunate enough not to be in their custody, and who may chance to solicit information of them as to the turnings and devia- tions of a road, &c., as they are austere and repulsive to their prisoners. They are never known to receive a bribe—they may sometimes render an unfortunate being a ser'vice—but this occa- sional generosity is the result of a sudden and evanescent philan- thropy, and is not to be elicited by hire. Their wants are circum- scribed to a little—a few sous in their pockets to purchase tobacco, a petit verre de cognac the first thing in the morning, and a bottle of beer in the course of the day, are all they require beyond their regular meals, They are therefore temperate and trust-worthy, incorruptible as to the integrity with which they discharge their duty, diligent, active, and penetrating. Thcir cunning and alert- ness in detecting crime, and in securing the authors of it, are pro- verbial: the quickness with which they follow up the slightest suspicion, and the important and correet conjectures they form from COnicbooolks (GO)