Alfred; or, The Adventures of a French Gentleman — page 129: what you’re looking at

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

106 ALFRED; OR ADVENTURES <¢ Stay—and let us hear the result,” said De Rosann. ‘‘ T succeeded in passing through the gates of the town,” con~ tinued Champignon, ‘* by the aid of the old clothesman’s passport, notwithstanding the strict examination to which it was subjected. Under the denomination of signes particuliéres* was mentioned its late owner’s habit of squinting; and I experienced the greatest difficulty in looking at my nose with my left eye during the five minutes that the Gendarmes wasted in comparing my person with the descriptive items of the false passport. No sooner had I obtained permission to continue my journey, than the roar of the cannon from the citadel deafened my ears, and produced as great an effect upon me as did the fall of a tray, on which was an excellent dinner of my own cooking, one fine day, at the Cadran Rouge. To my astonishment the guns gave warning of the escape of three convicts ; and I recollect saying to myself, as I turned into a thick wood at a little distance from the glacis, ‘ How I wish that the other two— myself being safe—were the worthy Messieurs De Rosann and Belle-Rose!—You appear incredulous; but it is as true as that I can serve up a dejeuner & la fourchette better than any man in Christendom.” ‘We believe you,” said Belle-Rose, ‘‘ having made the same remark relative to yourself: so proceed.” ‘¢ The moment I entered the wood, instead of hastening towards the middle as quickly as I could, I turned immediately to the 9 right; and seeing a dense thicket close by, I concealed myselt within its friendly mazes, sagely concluding that when the Gend- armes went to search the shady labyrinth of trees, they would not look in the mere outskirts for the object of their visit. Seated upon some dead leaves, I put my right hand to my forehead, and my left hand to my hip, asis my custom when I am about to debate within my own mind on any important matter—such as the various dishes that ought to compose the different courses of a diner soagneé, or the articles in the bill to which I could best add a few extra francs without exciting the suspicion of a guest—and began seriously to consider what steps I ought to take in my present forlorn predica- ment. Having reflected at least three hours without coming to any positive decision, save that I must look out for a dinner, which I should have had no objection to cook myself, if any one had sup- pled me with aliments and materials, I left my thicket, and walked slowly into the recesses of the wood. Presently, to my joy and delight, a cottage met my eyes. I moved towards it, and stood ten minutes at the door without venturing to knock. At length it suddenly opened, and a little girl made her appearance on the threshold. She was startled when she saw me; I, however, addressed her in that gentle tone which I can assume at pleasure, and requested somewhat to eat. My piteous harangue was, how- ever, cut short by the sight of a blear-eyed old woman, with a pipe in her mouth, puffing away like a steam-packet. She did not, however, mean to interrupt me; but merely stepped forward to * Particular marks about the person; such as scars, the traces of the small-pox, lameness, &c. &c. EORNIE OOOKS (E(0)