Alfred; or, The Adventures of a French Gentleman — page 242: what you’re looking at

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

OF A’ FRENCH GENTLEMAN. 207 he was pleased to dignify by the respectable appellation of loan instead of gift. Alfred was not however at home; and Belle-Rose resolved to wait for him. He lounged in and out of the two chambers which were occupied by our hero, and which communi- cated with one another; and at length his eye caught sight of Leblond’s letter and Champignon’s prospectus. He hastily perused the former, and immediately resolved to essay a daring measure to possess himself of the treasure entrusted to De Rosann. He then glanced hastily on the latter, and laughed heartily at the schemes of the gastronomer; for he could not fail to recognise the invention of Champignon’s fertile genius, although the prospectus purported to have been put forth by an individual bearing the appellation of Citron, which, as our readers will please to recollect, was the nom de guerre adopted by the ‘‘ best cook in Europe” when he opened his shop at St. Malo. No sooner had Belle-Rose entertained the nefarious idea of robbing De Rosann on the highway, during a journey which the waiter had already informed the self-dubbed Count our hero projected, than he resolved not to tarry any longer in expectation of Alfred’s return, he therefore immediately departed to lay the foundation of the plan. Markham was easily gained over as an accomplice; and another of their abandoned associates was enlisted in the same service. The reader is already acquainted with the failure and result of the scheme. Scarcely had Belle-Rose completed a hasty toilet, when the landlord entered his room, and requested the fulfilment of the promise so solemnly given the day before. ‘¢ You are in a dreadful hurry, my worthy friend,” said Belle- Rose, recovering his presence of mind, and speaking with his usual coolness: ‘* cannot you wait till I have called upon my banker—” _ That is the old excuse, M. d’Elsigny,” returned the obstinate landlord, evincing a dogged resolution not to be idly made the butt of his guest’s disposition for trifling any longer. ‘¢ How? the old excuse!” exclaimed Belle-Rose, affecting an angry excitement which he did not feel; ‘‘ I went out yesterday to fetch the money to liquidate my bill; and falling in with my friend Markham, I entirely forgot it.” ‘¢ You have broken your word, then; and a man of honour, as you pretend to be, should avoid subjecting himself to an accusation of telling an untruth.” ‘¢T have not broken my word—nor do I intend to do so,” re- turned Belle-Rose. ‘* The character of the Count d’Elsigny must never be impugned with impunity. I promised to settle your account this morning. Before twelve o’clock the money shall be roduced in this very room.” ‘¢ If I could rely upon your word—” ‘¢ Incredulous wretch!” exclaimed Belle-Rose, pretending to get into a passion; ‘‘go and draw the money yourself, if you choose.” ‘s-T will trust you once more, M. d’Elsigny,” cried the landlord, scarcely knowing what step to take, and thinking that his noble CORNICLOOKS.CO