Alfred de Rosann — page 95: what you’re looking at

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

56 ALFRED DE ROSANN. “ Monsieur le Comte,’’ began our old acquaintance, Mr. Jenkins. ; ‘What the devil would you have with me ?”’ in- quired Belle-Rose in French, his voice being anything but suave and dulcet at the moment. Mr. Jenkins gave no reply, but pointed to the card- table, and made a sign with the fingers of his right hand in the out-stretched palm of his left. Belle- Rose understood full-well the meaning of the worthy gentleman, and turned his back upon him with a look - of the most sovereign contempt, purposely placing the heel of his shoe on the officious individual’s toes at the same time. Mr. Jenkins gave a terrible start, and fell with such violence against his friend of the seals, who was endeavouring to force a passage through the crowd at the door, that the watch-chain and. its appendages rattled like pebbles against a window. When their confusion, into which this sudden shock had thrown them, was somewhat abated, Mr. Jenkins looked around to discover Belle-Rose.. But the music had ceased—the guadrille was concluded—and the soi-disant Count had taken advantage of the mo- mentary bustle’ to make his escape. Arrived in the hall, a footman in gorgeous livery demanded of the retiring guest whether he had brought a cloak or great-coat with him ; and asthe eye of Belle-Rose fell at the same instant upon a magnificent mantle lined with sables, he replied in the affirmative, although he had no real claim to the said garment. After a proper delay in pretending to search for his own property, he unhooked the splendid mantle that had before at- tracted his attention ; and having cast it negligently on his left shoulder, he placed half-a-crown in the {ootman’s hand, and quitted the house, totally reckless of what might become of his friend Markham. When De Rosann rejoined Mrs. Robson and her. daughters, he found them all three extremely anxious on his account—particularly Selina, in whose eye glistened a tear. The report of his quarrel with Markham, and the certainty of a duel, had reached = a (C@) IOOKS GoM