Alfred de Rosann — page 50: what you’re looking at

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

ALFRED DE ROSANN. 41 and, instead of encouraging the conversation of an in- dividual whom he did not like, he turned to say a few words to Miss Selina Robson. Dinner was presently announced ; and De Rosann offered his arm to Selina, whom he found to be unaf- fected and accomplished. Lebrun was accidentally seated opposite to him at the table; but he carefully avoided encountering the glances of our hero. “* You are dull to-day, Lebrun,’’ cried Mr. Robson, when an interval between the courses gave him an opportunity of remarking his guest’s unusual tacitur- nity. “A slight headache, my dear sir—’tis nothing.” ‘A glass of champagne will raise your drooping Spirits,”’ observed the banker, making a signal to the domestic to serve M. Lebrun with the delicious juice of* K:pernay’s choicest grapes. “* M. Lebrun is doubtless fond of champagne,”’ re- marked De Rosann with an emphasis, the bitter irony of which was alone perceived by him whom it was intended to annoy. “It is the finest production of my native country,”’ muttered the crest-fallen Frenchman in a low voice. “You certainly have experienced a loss to-day on ’Change,”’ cried the gentleman who sported the silver spectacles, and whose name was Jenkins. ‘There was a fall in the four per cents,’ said Mr. Robson; “and I will wager heavily that my speculative. friend has suffered by the reaction. Do you know, M. De Rosann,”’ continued the banker, speaking in French, “that Lebrun is a desperate gambler in the funds??? ‘ ‘‘T can readily believe it,’’ answered our hero drily, while M. Lebrun’s colour went and came ten times alternately in a minute. “‘ And yet the world says we are about to sign agree- ments of partnership,’ added Mr. Robson, with a smile. | “‘ Miss~ Selina, shall I have the pleasure of taking wine with you ?”’ said Lebrun, whose embarrassment 4% Gomichbook (E@)