Alfred de Rosann by G.W.M. Reynolds — page 195: what you’re looking at

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

166 Alfred de Fosann. her two daughters. Issuing from so respectable a source as the Count d’Elsigny, and emanating from an authority so good asa fellow-countryman of De Rosann—who for a moment would have thought of doubting the assertion ? When both the Misses Robson were engaged in the second guadrille, the gentlemen of the spectacles and the seals approached. er, and entered into conversation.. 6¢ the spouse of their friend the ban NM. De Rosann is here, I see,” said Mr. Goldsmith, after some common-place remarks. ‘¢ He was invited by the Colonel,” returned Mrs. Robson.. ‘¢ They dined in each other’s company at our house a few days ago; and although the Colonel assisted Wellington—or rather the Prussians—to beat the French, he does not dislike them indi- vidually.” ‘‘M. De Rosann appears a very nice young man,’ observed. Mr. Jenkins, adjusting his spectacles. ‘¢ Of course, Mrs. Robson thinks so,” added the other slyly. ‘¢If such were not my opinion, I should scarcely suffer him to associate with my daughters,” returned the banker’s wife. —. ‘¢ Very natural! very natural!” exclaimed Mr. Goldsmith, rat- tling his seals: ** but I did not think Robson had any secrets from an old friend.” ‘¢ Secrets!” cried Mrs. Robson. ‘‘O yes!—weare not blind, you know, my dear madam,” chimed in Mr. Jenkins. ‘‘ M. De Rosann is very good-looking, very gen- teel, and clever, for any thing that I know. Miss Selina is pretty, lady-like, and accomplished.” ‘¢T understand your allusion,” said Mrs. Robson, somewhat haughtily ; ‘‘ but I can assure you that your suspicions are totally unfounded; so much so,” continued the worthy lady, ‘ that M. De Rosann himself purposes to leave London in three weeks or a month.” ‘¢ Hem !” muttered he of the spectacles. ‘¢ Indeed!” exclaimed he of the seals. ‘¢ Therefore, if you have communicated to any one your supposi- tions, which are as groundless as your fanciful arrangement of the scene that took place some evenings ago at our house—relative to Lebrun, or La Motte, you know—” ‘‘ Ah! there is my friend Lord Walter!” cried Mr. Jenkins, hastily bowing to Mrs. Robson, and mingling with the crowd. ‘‘ Allow me to fetch you a glass of lemonade, madam,” ex- claimed Mr. Goldsmith immediately after; and he disappeared before Mrs. Robson had concluded her sentence. The quadrille was now finished, and the Misses Robson were handed to their chairs by the gentlemen with whom they had been dancing. They were surprised to find their mother in an ill-humour, and enquired the reason; but she was too delicate to tell them the real truth, and satisfied them by an innocent invention. De Rosann interrupted the maternal evasion by a solicitation for the pleasure of dancing another guadrille with Miss Selina. He did not invite her sister, because she could not speak French, and it ‘was useless COnicbooolks (GO)