Alfred de Rosann by G.W.M. Reynolds — page 241: what you’re looking at

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

208 Alfred de Rosann. guest could scarcely fail to fulfil a promise so solemnly given for the fourteenth time, particularly when his honour “ as a French nobleman’’ was at stake. ‘¢ And you are a great fool for your pains,” said Belle-Rose when the proprietor of the hotel had left the room puffed up with hopes as false as they were threadbare. Belle- Rose rang the bell and ordered his breakfast. He made a hearty meal, and then determined to do that which he had medi- tated for some time past, and which sooner or later must inevitably have concluded his London career, viz. to decamp. In France a Frenchman* can only be arrested upon a bill of exchange, made payable at one town and drawn at another; in England the liberty of the subject was uot lately so much regarded by the unsaintly hand of the sheriff’s officer. Belle-Rose enew this, and felt con- vinced that the patience of his landlord was now nearly exhausted ; he therefore put the little money he could command in his pocket, made a bundle of a few shirts and other necessaries; and envelop- ing himself in his handsome cloak lined with sables, although the morning was fine and sunny, he sallied forth to seek new adven- tures, and return to his native land, declaring, as he bent his steps towards the Universal Coach Office in Piccadilly, ‘“‘ That after all, France was the only country fit for a gentleman to reside in !” While the unsuspecting landlord was anxiously waiting for the return of the sot-disan¢t Count, as he had ‘‘a sum to make up,’’ the crafty Belle-Rose was comfortably seated on the outside of the Eagle coach, on his way to Dovor, where he arrived without any accident the game evening. At six o’clock the next morning he embarked on board a sailing-vessel bound for Calais, the wind being too high and the sea too boisterous to allow the steam-boats to venture the transition. At Calais he caused his passport to be duly signed, according to the usual formalities, and secured a place in the diligence for Abbeville, having already made up his mind how to act in order to obtain a little supply of ready money to commence his career once more at Paris. From Abbeville he proceeded to Dieppe, thence to Havre-de-grace, and lastly to St. alo. Arrived at this latter town, he did not seek the purchased hospitality of an hotel, but informed himself where dwelt ‘‘ M. Citron, Friandeur,” and hastened to pay his respects to our worthy friend Champignon. It is impossible for a less able painter than a Hogarth or a Cruikshank to delineate the curious face which the quiet gastro- nomer put on when Belle-Rose entered his shop. He recollected his visitor’s uncommon appetite, and cast a sad look at the dainties so invitingly spread out against the windows each side of the door. But his naturally generous disposition triumphed over that mo- mentary feeling of selfishness, and he welcomed Belle-Rose with a cordiality even astonishing to the impudent and shameless ad- venturer himself. The fatted calf was immediately killed—the * A foreigner, not domiciled by act nor naturalized in France, can be arrested for a book-debt; but not upon the mere oath of the creditor, who is obliged to prove the justice of his claim before a writ is granted. COnicbooolks (GO)