Alfred de Rosann by G.W.M. Reynolds — page 253: what you’re looking at

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

220 Alfred de Rosann. emphasis: ‘* he dare not, even if he wished and had the power to deceive your masters and mine.” , De Rosaun had nothing to reply to this assurance ; he accordingly took his leave of Leblond, and returned to Meurice’s hotel, where he shut himself up in his room to ponder on the conversation that had taken place during the interview with the mysterious agent of mysterious superiors. But it was in vain that he endeavoured to fix his sole thoughts | upon that topic: the image of the beautiful Eloise perpetually intervened, and changed the current of his ideas. He could never sufficiently admire the generous disposition of the heroic girl, that refused to listen to the calumniating tongues which were anxious to asperse the character of her lover, and separate them for ever. He called to mind all her former tenderness and unquestionable attachment when, in an hour of pert! and distress, he was the inmate of a gloomy dungeon. Now that Fortune smiled upon him, and Prosperity, with a bland countenance, seemed to beckon him for- ward to eventual success, he was determined to evince his gratitude and unchangeable affection to his beloved Eloise, and devote every instant of his time to promote her felicity, so soon as he could obtain a legal right to declare himself her protector and friend. And he felt that he should be proud in presenting such a faultless bride to the numerous acquaintances who would soon flock round him, when the tongue of fame had proclaimed his return to Paris, his innocence, his pardon, and his independence. CHAPTER XXXI. THE CITIZENS OF PARIS. Dz Rosann passed a restless night. His mind was too much agitated by a variety of conflicting ideas to allow sleep to visit his eyes. He tossed backwards and forwards on his slumberless pillow, at one moment pondering on the mysterious conduct of Leblond, at another on the noble behaviour of Eloise. He would then blame himself for not having made her uncle acquainted with every thing that had happened to him since they last met—the particu ars relative to the ducuments of the deceased Marquis de enneville, the dying request of La Motte, and the pardon that had been procured for im through the influence of his secret patrons. In five minutes a complete reaction took place in our ero’s opinions. He applauded himself for having withheld those important communications, and felt certain that his defence, and an application to Mr. Robson by letter, would terminate the whole affair in his favour. He moreover recollected that some considera- tion was due to his own pride, and that he was not to be idly accused by every scandalous tongue, nor to be condemed without explanation by a prejudiced judge. On these reflections would intrude the idea that he ought to make any sacrifice to forward his COnicbooolks (GO)