Alfred de Rosann — page 86: what you’re looking at

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

ALFRED DE ROSANN. 77 cupied by the ladies ; such being the efiquefée in his own country, whence, with a few exceptions, issue to the rest of Kurope all the laws of politenessthat control the society of the higher classes in their fashionable PEUNLONS. ‘How do you do, De Rosann?” cried a voice nea him; and when our hero turned round to reply to this familiar salutation, he recognised Belle-Rose, with a quizzing-glass to his right eye, staring most rudely at every lady who had any pretensions to beauty. He was dressed in the extreme of fashion,—a magnificent gold chain hung round his neck, and was apparently attached to as handsome a watch in his waistcoat pocket; the glove was purposely withdrawn from his right hand, to display the valuable rings that glittered on his fingers, and his countenance was radiant with joy and self-satisfaction. He was leaning on the arm of a young Englishman, who spoke French with a horrible accent, and who repeated the words “ Mon- sieur le Comte,’’ as often and as loudly as he could, in every answer he gave to his companion’s questions, or every remark he spontaneously uttered himself. De Rosann replied to the soz-disant Count’s salu- tation with a low and distant bow. His wishes were understood ; Belle-Rose did not care to trouble him any farther; and the pressure of the crowd, caused by the arrival of new guests, soon separated them from each other’s view. “There isa man,’’ thought our hero, in his own mind, “who contrives to push himself into the fash- ionable circles of London, by the aid of a little swag- gering, a little effrontery, and a little impudence.”’ In a quarter of an hour the music recommenced, and De Rosann sought his partner. Selina was dressed in virgin-white. Her hair was unadorned save by a single rose, which resembled her raiment, and a small wreath of pearls. Her necklace, her ear-rings, and her bracelets, were all composed of those modest beads. Alfred could not help regarding her with a look of admiration, and he thought of Eloise as he 7% EOPNIC OOOL< (E@)