Alfred de Rosann by G.W.M. Reynolds — page 127: what you’re looking at

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

104 Alfred de Rosann. and thus allowed me to rise from the ground. My compan- ion could not fancy how I had liberated myself: and I persuaded him, that the weakness of the lock alone must have accidentally separated me from him. Had he been an object worthy of com- miseration, I should have immediately entrusted him with the secret. As it was, I kept my own counsel, and gradually edged off to as eat a distance from the brutal convict as possible, till I at length found myself close to the door communicating with the hall, at the extremity of which is situate the principal entrance to the prison. At that moment, the pressure of the crowd was very great in the spot where I was standing; and several Gendarmes and soldiers were forcing their way through the multitude to arrest the most riotous, and to compel the others to cease from encouraging the dis- order. No one paid any attention to me, because I remained tran- uil; but I gazed intently on all that was passing in the vicinity of the door. Presently I noticed a terrible scuffle between a convict and a Gendarme. You may probably recollect that on account of the dreadful chill of the morning, the Gendarmes arrived in their cloaks. The one who was now wrestling with the galley-slave, was encumbered by his. A sudden motion, however, soon deprived him of it, and the mantle rolled almost under my feet. In an instant his cocked hat followed the cloak—the scuffle continued—no one took any notice of the fallen objects—and presently another move- ment of the crowd left a clear space opposite the door. I hastily put on the cloak and the hat, knocked as loudly as I could at the gate, and when it was opened, rushed into the hall, crying, ‘The guard ! the guard!’ Neither the turnkeys nor the sentries suspected my intentions—they took me for a real Gendarme—my trousers escaped their notice—and the front door was immediately thrown open to afford me egress.” ‘¢ Bravo!” cried Belle-Rose, unable to contain his admiration : ‘‘ give me your hand, Champignon ; I did not think you capable, my brave fellow, of sodaring a deed. T'was excellent—delicious !” ‘¢ Ah! ah!” chuckled the gastronomer; ‘we do things well, when we have a mind, eh ?” ‘You are a man of wonderful parts !” *¢ My name will yet be handed down to posterity,” cried Cham- pignon, delighted with the adulation of Belle-Rose. ‘ Only wait till my cotelettes 4 la quadrille get into vogue, and Europe shall talk of me.” ‘¢ The journals mention your name already,” said Pierre. ‘< Indeed! you do not mean what you say, my dear, kind, good Belle-Rose. Oh! if I knew the manner in which they speak of me! of course it 18 to praise my gastronomical knowledge. But which journal is it that does me so much honour!" enquired the delighted Champignon. ‘© Most likely the Armoricain de Brest,’ answered Belle-Rose drily. Ts it possible that my fame could have followed me from Paris?” ‘¢ Not that I know of,” replied Pierre ; ‘‘ neither have I seen the Brest newspaper; but you may rely upon one thing—which ws, ECONlNCOOOlKS.CO