Alfred; or, The Adventures of a French Gentleman — page 110: what you’re looking at

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

OF A FRENCH GENTLEMAN, 9] proposed end of their journey; they had much more time before them than was necessary to complete the distance to which their march of that day was to extend; and they were both too glad to breathe the fresh air of the country, instead of the close atmosphere of a gaol, to deny them- selves the pleasure of dwelling on a fine prospect and lovely scenery. It was not till nearly ten o'clock in the evening that they arrived within three or four miles of St. Malo. ‘The innumerable lights of the town resembled the reflection of countless planets in a deep ocean; and our travellers hailed their vicinity as an assurance of safety, and a guarantee of success. They looked around them to discover a cottage, or isolated dwelling, where they might repose till morning; and the sharp eye of Belle-Rose soon distinguished a glimmering light at a little distance. Thither they bent their steps; and a quarter of an hour brought them to a large farm-honse, whose antique gables and quaint architecture were visible beneath the rays of the moon that now emerged from behind the dusky vapours of night. A high railing surrounded the old building ; and when De Rosann agitated the gate, which was carefully locked, the loud barking of a dog within the enclosure speedily aroused the attention of the inmates. ‘¢ Silence, Azor—silence!’ cried the voice of a man who issued from ‘the farm-house; and in a moment the faithful animal ceased his dis- cordant howling. « Two travellers claim your hospitality for the night; and where they meet with a friendly welcome, they are not ungrateful,” cried Belle-Rose, as the man approached the gate of the railing, and seemed to hesitate whether he should open it or not. But the frank and unsophisticated manner in which Pierre had uttered the above demand and assurance in the same breath, the respectable appearance of our hero and his compa- nion, as far as could be judged in an uncertain light, and the naturally kind disposition of the farmer—for he it was in person—terminated his doubts in favour of the two travellers, and the gate flew open to give them admittance. Introduced to the interior of the dwelling, neither De Rosann nor Belle- Rose were sorry to see a large fire burning on the ample hearth; for although the chilly season of the year had passed, still the nights were far from warm, and the damp air imparted a shivering sensation to those who were long exposed to it. ‘© Messieurs,’ said the farmer, when he had once more shut and barred the front door, ‘‘ you are as welcome to all my poor dwelling affords as if you were my own brothers. But I am afraid things will not be quite so comfortable as I could wish; for my wife is ill in bed with a fever— and a man, you know, makes but a sorry housekeeper.” ‘No apology is necessary,” returned De Rosann, drawing his stool closer to the fire; “ a mouthful of bread is all that we require; for I fancy we are more fatigued than hungry.” “IT do not mean to say that I have got nothing but dry bread,” re- joined the farmer with a smile, as he opened a cupboard from which he took cold ham, bouilli, and the remnants of a large turkey ; “ all I wished you to know was that I am incapable of cooking meats to serve up a hot supper: but such as the provisions are, eat and be welcome.” ‘‘ Meseems that you make good cheer, my friend,” cried Belle-Rose, E@MICLOOOKKS» GO