Alfred de Rosann by G.W.M. Reynolds — page 21: what you’re looking at

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

12 Alfred de Rosann. daily furnished him with favourable reports relative to the prosperity. of their commercial enterprises. But all the congratulations of fawn- ing acquaintances—the praises of the good—the success of his specu- lations—and the flattery of his associates—all these were as nothing in his estimation, when compared with a single smile on the coun- tenance of his Eloise, or one tender glance from her dark blue eyes. One afternoon, as De Rosann was completing his toilet, having been occupied with letters of importance that had detained him at home the whole morning, he was surprised by a visit from La Motte, who seldom or never left his office before the hour at which he was accus- tomed to proceed to the Bourse. Alfred received the man of business with his usual cordiality, and requested him to be seated. ‘¢ I hope this intrusion does not particularly disturb you, my youn friend,”’ said La Motte, throwing himself into a large easy chair, and wiping the perspiration from his face. “Oh! no—certainly not,’’ replied De Rosann, at the same time manifesting a slight degree of impatience, for it was the exact hour at which he invariably paid his respects to Eloise. ‘““T will not detain you Jong,’ cried M. La Motte, noticing his artner’s embarrassment. ‘* The fact 1s,” he continued, “ I cannot eave the office to-day—there will be little doing at the Bourse—and I wished you to do me a service when you return home this evening.” ‘‘ With the greatest pleasure,’ answered our hero; “that is, if it be In my power.” ‘Oh! ’tis not only in your power, but in the way of business,” answered La Motte with a chuckle. ‘‘I must first inform you,” pro- ceeded the merchant in a sort of whisper, although he and De Rosann were alone, ‘that our worthy correspondents, Delisle, Guerin, and Company, have authorized us to make an immense purchase for them —they are the first house at Marseilles, you recollect—and to accept bills by procuration, as payment. Here is their letter,’ added La Motte, fumbling in his pocket: then in a moment he cried, ‘‘ Ah! I remember—I left it on my desk ; but you can see it presently.”’ ‘It is not necessary,’ exclaimed de Rosann, whose imputience increased: ‘‘ you know I do not often interfere in the affairs of the house—and that J have the utmost confidence—as, indeed, I ought to have—in your management.”’ ‘‘ My sole endeavour is to merit your esteem and approbation,’ said La Motte, in a modest tone of voice: ‘‘ but I see you are in a hurry to visit your intended—eh! eh!—and I will not detain you another minute. All I wish is, that you would purchase stamps for bills of exchange to the amount of three hundred thousand francs, as you return home, and that this evening you would devote an hour to assist me in drawing them up.”’ “Cannot you send aclerk? I might forget it.’’ ‘See what it is to have a young head!” cried La Motte. ‘‘ Do you know, my dear friend, that if our clerks had an idea that we pur- chased stamps to such an amount, they would instantly imagine we were about to issue our own paper, and that our house was in a state of insolvency.”’ ‘* Your remark is just—and I will do as you desire me,” said De Rosann, somewhat ashamed at his blindness in not having before COnicbooolks (GO)