Alfred; or, The Adventures of a French Gentleman — page 227: what you’re looking at

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

194 ALFRED; OR ADVENTURES ‘¢ Shall I give you my acknowledgment?” enquired Belle-Rose, coolly transferring the bank-notes from the table to his pocket. “ Tdiot !” exclaimed Alfred: ‘‘ do you think I ever wish you to pay me, even if you could ?” ‘¢ You are perfectly right not to expect it,” said the adventurer. ‘Good morning, my dear De Rosann ; and be assured you possess my most undivided friendship.” With these words the soi-disant Count left the room; and in the afternoon the respectable inhabitants of the Quadrant were again gratified with the appearance of the little Frenchman, who sported more chains, was dressed in better style, and threw a greater swag- ger into his gait than ever. De Rosann received satisfactory letters from St. Malo, and laughed heartily at the contents of Champignon’s prospectus; for he instantly recognised the nick-names and real appellations of many of the convicts at the bagne, who had made the poor gas- tronomer their butt, and had puffed him up with promises to take shares in his concern. But the happy tidings, that Eloise gradually acquired health and spirits on account of the prospects her lover held out relative to his pardon and speedy return to France, to claim her hand of a parent whose obstacles he declared his ability to overcome, caused our hero to experience sentiments of pleasure and felicity which we cannot define. Those only who have com- batted against the cruelty or the pride of parents, and who have met with severe repugnance to the attainment of a consent too long withheld, can appreciate the feelings of a fond lover when he sees fortune suddenly smiling upon him, his mistress tender and con- stant, and a more than probability of eventually conducting her a blushing bride, resplendent with beauty, animation, and joy, to the hymeneal altar. Time wore on—about a month since the receipt of Leblond’s letter elapsed—and that mysterious individual, faithful to his pro- mise, sent De Rosann the anxiously-anticipated pardon. Our hero tore open the paper that enclosed it; and when his eyes caught the first words, ‘‘ Nous, Charles le dix, Roi de France et Navarre, avons ordonné et ordonnons ce qui suit,’ &c. &c.,* and when he noticed the signature of the Minister of Justice at the -_ bottom of the sovereign decree, he could not contain his joy; but with all his native vivacity he performed a thousand ridiculous antics, till he was ashamed of his very self, and began seriously to consider whether he had not lost his senses. The idea that he could now return to his beloved country—that nothing farther detained him in England, and that he was at liberty to commence his journey back again to ‘The chosen home of chivalry, -. And garden of romance,” whenever he chose to order the post-chaise and bid adieu to his pe Bak BE case oe ANS ae ee * “We, Charles the Tenth, King of France and Navarre, have decreed and do decree that which follows,’? &c. This is the preamble of all royal mandates in France. EOMMICLOOOKS »(e©