Alfred de Rosann — page 167: what you’re looking at

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

158 ALFRED DE ROSANN: again, in the Rue des Pyramides; and do not be alarmed at the suddenness of our departure. The obstacle will be easily surmounted—Mr. Clayton cannot refuse to read your defence—and he is not unjust, nor deaf to the voice of reason, when his passions have had time to cool, and his wrath is moderated. | ‘¢ Believe me, my dear Alfred, ‘HKiver your most affectionate “ HWLOISE CLAYTON.”’ “ Noble girl—generous disposition!’’ exclaimed Al- fred, carefully folding up the letter and placing it next to his heart. He then remunerated the porter, who smiled significantly, as if he were aware that the tender note related to a love-affair: but our hero did not stay to notice the man’s animated countenance, nor the po- lite bows he made in return for the fifteen frances he had so easily earned. Disappointed, but far from despairing, De Rosann returned to the inn; and notwithstanding the fatigues of travelling which he had already endured, he ordered a post-chaise to be got ready immediately. The ser- vices of four horses were this time put in requisition; and Alfred found himself on his road to Paris, while the landlord declared “ That positively of all the obsti- ° nately headstrong young men he had ever accidentally seen, none could be feasibly compared to the indubita- bly mad-brained youth who had instantaneously quitted his hotel, without even prudently giving himself abso- lutely the time to enjoy comfortably an elegantly ar- ranged repast.”’ e As the weather was hot, and the roads were not ex- ceedingly dusty, De Rosann had _ ordered the carriage to be opened, by lowering the top: he could thus com- mand a view of the surrounding country as he jour- neyed onwards to the French capital. About a league from St. Malo he espied a man mounted upon a don- key, and endeavouring to force the poor animal into a gallop—a pace which apparently in no way suited the sober ideas of the obstinate beast, for he suddenly lifted Gomichbooks,com