Alfred de Rosann — page 54: what you’re looking at

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

ALFRED DE ROSANN. 45 me. I forebore to act thus summarily in the presence of your wife and daughters,—and I solicit your par- don for having taken upon myself the task of expell- ing that man from your society after I had made my accusation, to which his manners, his countenance, and his subsequent cowardice pleaded guilty.” “ My dear young friend,” cried the banker, rising from his seat and embracing our hero as if he had known him since the moment of his birth: “how deeply am I indebted to you for the important service you have just rendered me. Within ten days would that infamous scoundrel have been a partner in my bank; the deeds are already more than half completed _ at my lawyer’s office. O never can I forget this pro- vidential interference in my behalf !” ‘I have acted as you would have done towards me,’ returned De Rosann; “and I sincerely con- gratulate you on your narrow escape. In less than six months M. La Motte would have absconded to America with all your fortune.”’ “1 know it—I know it!” cried the banker, wiping away tears of joy from his eyes, and hugging our hero once more in his arms. In the meantime, the gentlemen of the seals and the spectacles sate in mute astonishment, observing all that passed, but understanding nothing, for a reason which scarcely requires explanation. “?Tis a part extracted from a French drama!”’ whispered Mr. Jenkins. ‘To be sure,’’ returned the other, in the same sotto voce. * The young Frenchman is the heroine’s lover; Mr. Robson is her father, and Lebrun is a villain who has endeavoured to set him against the match, and to seduce the daughter.” “JT should not at all wonder,’ said he of the bar- nacles. ‘‘See how naturally the young fellow per- forms his part. The father is convinced by his elo- quenee—the scandalizing mischief-maker dares not reply. Ah! he decamps—and just as if he were guilty, too!”’ Gomichbook (E@)