Alfred de Rosann by G.W.M. Reynolds — page 62: what you’re looking at

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

Alfred de Rosann. 47 ‘¢ Well—if you can manage to hold your tongue for a minute, I will tell you how I rendered se essential a service to Auguste Ledoux. You know that he and I escaped from Toulon together; but you do not know that when we got into the open fields, two Gendarmes pursued us on horse-back, ventre a terre.* We led them a rare dance amongst the woods, &c., till Auguste could not move another inch. What was to be done? the police-officers were close upon us: only one moment remained for reflection—but that mo- ment was enough for me. I unburdened my mind to Auguste, who, however, did not at all relish my scheme. That was no- thing—I knew it was for his good—so I cut short his objections by putting it in practice, and knocking him down with all my force. e lay senseless upon the grass—I rifled his pockets, and turned them inside out; and then ran away as fast as my legs could carry me. It all happened as I foresaw. The Gen- darmes wasted their time over Auguste, whom they firmly be- lieved I had murdered and plundered; and when I was well concealed in the wood, they resumed their search after me, in- tending to take charge of the corpse—as they supposed it to be— on their return. But all their cunning was ineffectual; they passed my hiding-place about a thousand times—and late at night gave up their task to return home. Meantime Auguste had come to himself, and had also betaken to the woods: every thing thus turning out as I anticipated. In the course of the next day we encountered each other—he embraced me as his saviour, and in less than a fortnight we dined together at Verey’s.” ‘¢ And pray what did you have for dinner?” inquired Champig- non, in a deliberate tone of voice. ‘ Sacré nom de dieu! do you think I recollect those kinds of trifles?” answered Belle-Rose. ‘* But talking of dinners puts me in mind of a certain couple of fowls, which, if you have no objection, messieurs, we will divide forthwith.”’ By this time De Rosann’s mind was partially composed, and he resolved not to forget in future those principles of philoso- phical resignation which he had before determined to adopt. lle-Rose felicitated him with much warmth and apparent sin- cerity on this happy change. He repeated his arguments on the necessity of maintaining one’s courage in hours of difficulty and distress ; he awakened fresh hopes in Alfred’s breast relative to an escape, and insisted on his partaking of the dainties which were so cunningly procured at Pontchartrain. The few rays of light that struggled against obscurity in the cachot, where this festivity took place, were allowed to enter by means of a small square trap, or guichet, which had been per- forated in the massive door for the express purpose ; and as the orb of day gradually descended towards the western horizon, the loom increased within that dreary dungeon. Presently a total fjarkness enveloped the three prisoners, just as their savoury meal was concluded ; and Champignon—having in vain regretted — <> * Synonymous with “ at full gallop.” COMRnIClooo SS (GO)