Alfred de Rosann by G.W.M. Reynolds — page 249: what you’re looking at

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

216 Alfred de Rosann. requisition; and Alfred found himself on his road to Paris, while the landlord declared ‘‘ That positively of all the obstinately head- strong young men he had ever accidentally seen, none could be feasibly compared to the indubitably mad-brained youth who had instantaneously quitted his hotel, without even prudently giving himself absolutely the time to enjoy comfortably an elegantly arranged repast.” As the weather was hot, and the roads were not exceedingly dusty, De Rosann had ordered the carriage to be opened, lowering the top : he could thus command a view of the surround- ing country as he journeyed onwards to the French capital. About a league from St. Malo he espied a man mounted upon a donkey, and endeavouring to force the poor animal into a gallop—a pace which apparently in no way suited the sober ideas of the obstinate beast, for he suddenly lifted up his heels and threw the luckless rider over his head. Our hero instantly recognised Champignon, and cried out to the postillions to sto for a moment. The gastro- nomer slowly raised himself from the ground, and cast a timid glance at the person seated in the carriage; but the instant he noticed’ De Rosann, he rushed forward, and gave him such a hearty shake of the hand, that Alfred was obliged to beseech him to re- Jax his iron grasp. | ‘¢ Can I really believe my own eyes ?—is it indeed you, M. De Rosann? or are you dead, and does your ghost wander about these parts, like a spectre in a church-yard ?” cried Champignon, over- joyed at thus encountering his late benefactor. ‘¢ "Tis really I myself,’’ answered Alfred, with a smile. ‘“ But wherefore do yo ride on an animal whose stubbornness you can- not overcome : ‘¢ The fact is,”’ said Champignon, * that I am an excellent horse- man; but I cannot maintain my seat on a jack-ass.” ‘¢ T am afraid you will never be a Franconi,* Champignon.” ‘¢ Call me Citron, if you please,’”’ whispered the gastronomer. ‘¢ Ah! I recollect your prospectus,” said our hero. ‘ Mr. Clay- ton forwarded the parcel to me in London, and I did not fail to make known your scheme to my friends.” ‘¢T thank you all the same; but I have renounced the idea of establishing my joint-stock company,” observed Champignon, mournfully. ‘“¢ And wherefore, might I enquire ?” , ‘¢ Because the individuals at a certain place in a certain town could not pay their subscriptions: and my cousin dissuaded me from the enterprise.” ‘He did perfectly right. But tell me—have you not seen Belle-Rose at St. Malo?” demanded Alfred. The gastronomer instantly related all that passed between him- self and the individual in question, whom he had not seen since the day the thousand francs were counted down upon the table. De Rosann thanked Champignon for the information, assured him * The French Ducrow. ECONlNCOOOlKS.CO