Alfred de Rosann — page 24: what you’re looking at

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

_ ALFRED DE ROSANN,. 15 relinquish it for ever, so violently was his bosom a prey to the wildest excesses of expectation and alarm. At length he recalled his departed energy—nerved himself to bear the result, whatever it might be—and cast his eyes in an instant of desperate courage on the only letter that was still to be perused. Suddenly his visage brightened—a triumphant smile played upon his countenance—his glances were replete with delight—he involuntarily clapped his hands together —started from his chair, and cried out “ Thank God —thank God ! the hand of heaven is indeed evident in this miraculous event !’’ For many minutes he forgot his real situation—he did not recollect where he was—he seemed involved in an ecstasy even greater than that into which Jeannette’s song had thrown him three days before. His mind was occupied by new ideas—fresh hopes -were awakened in his breast—and he pictured to him- self asmiling future as he paced the room with uneven steps. His delirium of joy resembled the effects of an extraordinary dose of opium on a somnambulist. He rubbed his hands together, laughed incoherently, and east wild glances around him. His spirit ap- peared to be wound up to such a degree as to threaten most dismal consequences in case of a too sudden re- action. Fortunately, however, his eye caught sight of the papers scattered upon the table, and he recovered his natural equanimity in a moment. Having carefully folded the precious documents, and placed them about his person as before, he un- locked the door of the bed-chamber, and rang the bell. The landlord himself appeared to answer the summons. 7 “Have you succeeded in obtaining the fulfilment of the: necessary formalities to our passports ?’’ in- quired De Rosann. ‘¢ Most unquestionably,’’ returned the landlord. “But I have changed my mind,” cried Alfred. ‘Circumstances will oblige me to go to England as .. speedily as possible,”’ Gomichbook (F@)