Alfred de Rosann by G.W.M. Reynolds — page 76: what you’re looking at

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

Alfred de Rosann. 59 the ancle of each individual. Fortunately for the execution of their designs, and the fulfilment of the mystic promises of Leblond, De Rosann and Belle-Rose were again suffered to be chained toge- ther ; and thus during the toils to which their condemnation com- pelled them to submit, were they enabled to discuss schemes and methods of escape. The result of these deliberations was, however, anticipated by an accident which seemed singularly well adapted to favour the wishes of the two convicts. The circumstances alluded to will be faithfully detailed in their places: at present we must for a moment stop the thread of our narrative to lay before the reader an episode which, although it may at first appear entirely unconnected with the tale, 1s nevertheless too important to be omitted. CHAPTER IX. FRANCOIS. In one of the strong rooms of the prison at Brest, encumbered with massive chains, and awaiting the arrival of Gendarmes to lead him forth to the place of execution, lay an old man, who had numbered at least sixty summers, and who had languished at the galleys more than half that period. His hair was white as snow; but his fiery eye and keen glance had not suffered through the ravages of time. There was something repulsive in his looks and in his manners—a ferocity, a coarseness that re- strained the slightest advance at familiarity. The story of his condemnation to the galleys, as he had often told it to his com- rades, was as follows :— ‘¢It was in the year V of the Republic, on the 2nd of Ther- midor—I recollect it as if it were yesterday—a stranger entered my humble shop in the Rue Grenelle St. Honoré, in Paris, and enquired if I had apartments to let. He had been attracted by the placard outside the door stating that a portion of my house was thus to be disposed of. I answered in the affirmative—he examined the two rooms that were free, and appeared satisfied with them. He enquired the amount of rent; I demanded a somewhat high price, expecting to be beaten down; but he acquiesced in the almost exorbitant charge, and was speedily installed in his new lodgings. He did not stir out till late at night; and then he remained some time absent. At length he returned, accompanied by an individual bearing a portmanteau of an uncommon weight, if I might Judge by the way he staggered under the heavy load. This was my lodger’s servant ; and from that moment he took up his quarters with his master ; there being a bed in each room. The Marquis de Denneville—for such was his rank and name—made a confidant of me, and threw himself en- tirely on my mercy. It appeared that a price was set upon his head—that since the overthrow of the Bourbon dynasty he had hitherto remained concealed in England—and that he had at length returned to his ‘ unfortunate country,’ as he called it, to en- deavour to influence a powerful relative in his behalf. This last COnicbooolks (GO)