Alfred de Rosann by G.W.M. Reynolds — page 244: what you’re looking at

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

Alfred de Rosann. 211 of Albion, he corrected his unlucky allusion in time, and added ‘Sa hospitable, kind, and generous race; but I am fond of the laughter, mirth, and gaiety we meet in France.” ‘¢ Did you see M. De Rosann in London? or perhaps you ac- companied him thither?” said Mr. Clayton. ‘‘ We parted at St. Malo six or seven weeks ago,” returned Belle- Rose, “totally unaware of each other’s intentions; and we acci- dentally encountered in the English metropolis. De Rosann went by Southampton, and I by Calais, thence direct to London; con- sequently I arrived before him only a few hours.” “‘T expect him at St. Malo in a day or two,” observed Mr. Clay- ton. ‘ He would doubtless have been here already, had not the tempestuous weather most probably detained him at Southampton, by which town he intended to return, according to the contents of the last letter I received from him.” ‘¢ He has left a sad heart behind him,” said Belle-Rose, affecting a melancholy tone. ‘* Poor Selina Robson! she doated upon our friend with as sincere an affection as woman can demonstrate to- wards man.” ‘What! did M. De Rosann make a conquest amongst my fair countrywomen ?” exclaimed Mr. Clayton. ‘‘ Their love was reciprocal,” returned Belle-Rose. ‘‘ De Rosann himself has assured me of their mutual attachment. He wore a lock of her hair next to his heart—he passed his days in her so- ciety, and his nights in dreaming of her: wherever Miss Selina Robson was, you might be sure Alfred was not far off. At every ball they danced together six or seven quadrilles consecutively ; they walked out alone in the parks; they wrote long letters to each other, although they met every morning, and separated only in the evening—” ‘‘This is most singular!” cried Mr. Clayton, becoming consi- derably interested in the lying narrative which Belle-Rose, who was totally ignorant of De Rosann’s attachment for Eloise, in- vented as he told it, according to his usual system of exaggeration, without any decided aim, save that of pretending to have an intt- mate knowledge of the affairs of others, and to laugh at the cre- dulity of his attentive listeners behind their backs. ‘‘Oh! yes—I assure you, that in the fashionable circles of the West-end nothing was heard nor spoken of save the handsome young Frenchman and the rich banker's daughter.” ‘¢ Ah! she was a rich banker’s daughter, eh?” said Mr. Clayton with a bitter smile, as he cursed in his own mind the mercenary soul that was capable of forgetting so pure a being as his niece, for the temptations which a wealthy dower could offer. ‘‘But their love was disappointed,” continued Belle-Rose. ‘¢ De Rosann proposed—” ‘¢ He proposed,” echoed Mr. Clayton. ‘¢ As I tell you,” said Belle-Rose : ‘‘ he proposed, and was re- jected. The old people knew he had not a farthing, and that their daughter's money was the only object which attracted him—still the young lady was certainly very pretty—” 2 COnicbooolks (GO)