Alfred de Rosann — page 52: what you’re looking at

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

ALFRED DE ROSANN. 43 “ Alas! how deeply is it to be deplored that the vices and immorality of mankind render such precau- tions necessary !’? cried De Rosann. ‘‘ No trust ought to be deemed more sacred than the private property of individuals. By a base flight with the treasures placed in your care, you involve the peace and _pros- perity of thousands: you reduce the widow and the orphan to a state of mendicity ; you deprive the poor of their hard-earned savings, and the industrious of _ their honourably-acquired competency. So base a breach of all social and moral ties, frequently causes a_thousand times more distress than the delinquent might have anticipated. In commercial speculations, . there are: so many connective links, so many wheels within wheels, that the ruin of one house may origi- nate the fall of twenty. Credit is suspended—the good suffer for the evil—and the upright intentions of the just man are rendered liable to suspicion. As years succeed years, it daily becomes more difficult for an individual to obtain a loan, save on the most unex- ceptionable security. Need we look far for the causes of so universal a distrust ?”’ 3 ‘¢ Your remarks are as true as the gospel,’’ said Mr. Robson, who had listened with the greatest attention to the words of his guest: ‘and, as you assert, the virtuous invariably suffer for the vicious; the deeds of bad men render the actions of the conscientious - doubtful: as luxury increases, so does crime.”’ ‘ And it is terrible to be deceived by one in whom you have placed confidence,’’ continued De Rosann, heedless of the banker’s observations, and raising his voice to its highest key. “Friendship becomes a coin with which a man endeavours to cheat his neigh- bour—affection—love—gratitude—are all sacrificed, in this age of corruption, on the altar of self-interest. But the day of retribution must come; the villain and the deceiver cannot long triumph in their turpitude; nor the hypocrite in his guile;—vengeance—justice —or the hand of Providence will assuredly overtake them in their wicked career. I knew a man who COPMICGLOOOKS (E@