Alfred; or, The Adventures of a French Gentleman — page 24: what you’re looking at

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

OF A FRENCH GENTIEMAN. 15 On the contrary, our affairs are as flourishing as they well can be.— What say you toa glass of champagne in honour of Messieurs Delisle} Guerin, and Company, of Marseilles ?’’ And this toast was drank with the same enthusiasm as the others. ‘‘ For many reasons, my dear Alfred,’”’ said La Motte, determined not to let the conversation languish, as it is only in much talking that we find an excuse for much drinking, “* you do well to decide upon matrimony. ‘The head of a vast mercantile establishment should be a married man; the steadmess of a bachelor is likely to be suspected; and there are a great many people who confound moral with com- mercial irregularities, and think that it is impossible for a gay young fellow to pay much attention to busmess. You therefore do right, | again repeat, to entertain serious ideas of matrimony.” ‘* You know that all is nearly settled,”’ hiccupped De Rosann, whose head began to turn with the effects of the frequent potations he had somewhat too liberally indulged—or been induced to indulge in; ior his ordinary habits were sobriety and temperance. ‘* Ha ca/ and the wedding-day—is it fixed ?” enquired La Motte, attentively observing his companion’s countenance, which was fiushed and heated. ““ Not yet,’ was the reply. ‘* But I begin to think we have had enough wine. Let us retire to the salon, and take our coffee; aiter which we shall be fit for business.” La Motte could scarcely suppress a smile when he heard De Rosann talking about “‘ his fitness for business ;” particularly as the youth could scarcely stand upon his legs, his head being giddy, and the objects that encountered his eyes appearing to whirl round. Arrived in the drawing-room, coffee was served up on one table, and La Motte desired the domestic to place writing materials upon another. He then told the man that he and his fellow-servants might retire to their respective beds, as himself and their master intended to look over some accounts, and therefore would not require their ser- vices any farther that night. ‘The domestic cast an incredulous glance upon De Rosann ere he withdrew, persuaded in his own mind that the two gentlemen intended to celebrate a bacchanalian orgie rather than trouble their heads about figures and bills. ‘‘ And being ashamed that I should guess what they mean to do,” said he to himself, ‘‘ they think to blind me with a paltry excuse. To-morrow morning I shall find the pens, ink, and paper untouched.” Thus is it that our servants and dependants are invariably the greatest spies as well as the most severe ¢ritics on our actions; and in the hour of misfortune they are unex- ceptionably our most malignant enemies. Instead of dispellmg the fumes of wine from De Rosann’s brain, the café noir only served to increase the fever of his blood; and a glass of liqueur achieved that which the wine had begun, and which the coffee considerably assisted. De Rosann was in a complete state of ebriety ; but not so far advanced as to be unable to write, although with a trembling and unsteady hand. The blank stamps were produced, and La Motte made a pretence of filling up the first; but he threw down the pen before he completed a single word, saying, “‘ Ah! De Rosann, your champagne has rendered me unfit for business; and these bills—which ought to be ready by CONNIE OOOKS (C(@) =)