Alfred de Rosann by G.W.M. Reynolds — page 266: what you’re looking at

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

Alfred de Itosann. 231 ‘¢Thus Fortune was favourable to me in that instance,” con- tinued our hero, when the uncle had relapsed once more into an attitude of attention, and the niece had received a smile as a return for the tender look she gave De Rosann: “nor did that same capricious Fortune embitter her honied cup by poisoned dregs. Leblond fulfilled the promise he made me in the letter I enclosed to you, Mr. Clayton; and there is my pardon,” added Alfred, throwing a paper upon the table. ‘* Here are two different documents,” said Mr. Clayton. ‘Ah! I forgot to state in its place,” returned De Rosann, ‘‘that La Motte drew up and signed a full account of his nefarious cheat practised upon me, and caused it to be witnessed by the French consul, the more fully to establish my innocence.” ‘¢ Better and better!” exclaimed Mr. Clayton, glancing towards his sister-in-law, and displaying the precious deeds with as much satisfaction as if they were his own, and as if he stood in our hero’s situation. De Rosann and Eloise again exchanged significant looks of lové and delight; and the former continued in the following terms :— ‘¢But this is not all. I have made you acquainted with my accession of property—my pardon—and my justification. A more important circumstance still remains to be explained. My journey to England, and absence from this country, have not been without effect: let us now see the result my toils are calculated to produce. Mrs. Clayton,” he said, addressing himself to that lady, ‘‘ I once sought your daughter’s hand as her equal—as an eligible suitor, and I was accepted. Misfortune—the treachery of a supposed friend reduced me to humiliation, to infamy, and to shame. You then revoked your consent to our future union—my prospects were wretched in the extreme—and perhaps you did right. But again —as an equal—as an innocent man—as a person possessing a com- petency—as a gentleman, in fine, I demand a renewal of your approbation to my marriage with Miss Clayton. You shake your head—you are impatient, Madam—you mean to refuse.” ‘¢T hope not,” cried Mr. Clayton, sitting uneasily on his chair, and glancing first at his sister-in-law, then at his niece, and lastly at Alfred, whose countenance was flushed with the excitement he underwent as he spoke to Mrs. Clayton. ‘¢T am sorry, M. De Rosann—I congratulate you most sincerely on your late successes—but the hand of Eloise—” and the stern parent hesitated ; for her eye caught sight of the ashy pale coun- tenance of her daughter, and she feared to proceed. ‘¢ Well, then,” exclaimed our hero, hastening to relieve himself and her he adored of a terrible suspense, “suffer me to show you that I am more generous than you, madam—and that I bear you no ill-will; no rancorous feeling do I entertain against you. I shall go hence and be unhappy—but first I must perform a duty which Providence alone could have charged me to acquit.” ‘¢ No—no—you shall be happy!” shouted Mr. Clayton, casting terrible glances at his sister-in-law. ‘¢ Allow me to say two words more,”’ interrupted Alfred mildly, COnicbooolks (GO)