Alfred; or, The Adventures of a French Gentleman — page 168: what you’re looking at

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

OF A FRENCH GENTLEMAN. 14] something before. ‘* My younger daughter, Selina, is perfectly acquainted with French: do try her, and see if she have forgotten any of it.” But before De Rosann had time to avail himself of Mr. Robson’s hint, the drawing-room door was thrown open, and a domestic an- nounced the arrival of M. Lebrun. As if a basilisk had stung his hand, De Rosann gave a sudden start, and overturned the chair from which he had risen to be pre- sented to M. Lebrun. No sooner had he set his eyes on the indi- vidual who bore that name, than he recognized a person he wished to meet before almost any other in the world. The recognition was mutual—so was the sudden start—for both were electrified, as it were, by the same machine. They then bowed coolly to each other, and seated themselves. ‘¢ Have you been long in London?” enquired Lebrun timidly. ‘¢ Two days,” answered our hero abruptly. ‘¢ You came direct from Paris? or have you been in any other country ?” asked Lebrun, recovering a little assurance. ‘De Rosann gave no reply: his object was gained by the few words that had passed with his fellow-countryman. Lebrun was evidently ignorant of what had happened to him: that was all our kero required to know; and, instead of encouraging the conversa- tion of an individual whom he did not like, he turned to say a few words to Miss Selina Robson. Dinner was presently announced; and De Rosann offered his arm to Selina, whom he found to be unaffected and accomplished. Lebrun was accidentally seated opposite to him at the table; but he carefully avoided encountering the glances of our hero. ‘You are dull to-day, Lebrun,” cried Mr. Robson, when an interval between the courses gave him an opportunity of remarking his guest’s unusual taciturnity. ‘¢¢ A slight head-ache, my dear sir—'tis nothing.” | ‘«¢ A glass of Champagne will raise your drvoping spirits,” ob- served the banker, making a signal to the domestic to serve M. Lebrun with the delicious juice of Epernay’s choicest grapes. ‘¢M. Lebrun is doubtless fond of Champagne,” remarked De Rosann with an emphasis, the bitter irony of which was alone per- ceived by him whom it was intended to annoy. ‘¢ It is the finest production of my native country,” muttered the crest-fallen Frenchman in a low voice. ‘¢ You certainly have experienced a loss to-day on ’Change,” cried the gentleman who sported the silver spectables, and whose name was Jenkins. ‘‘ There was a fallin the four per cents,” said Mr. Robson; “ and I will wager heavily that my speculative friend has suffered by the reaction. Do you know, M. De Rosann,” continued the banker, speaking in French, “that Lebrun is a desperate gambler in the funds ?” ‘¢T can readily believe it,” answered our hero drily, while M. Lebrun’s colour went and came ten times alternately im a minute. | ECORNICLOOKS.CO im