Alfred; or, The Adventures of a French Gentleman — page 169: what you’re looking at

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

142 ALFRED; OR ADVENTURES ‘¢ And yet the world says we are about to sign agreements ot partnership,” added Mr. Robson with a smile. ‘¢ Miss Selina, shall I have the pleasure of taking wine with you ?” said Lebrun, whose embarrassment was increasing every moment, and whose confusion, at the last remark made by Mr. Robson, was palpable to all present. ‘s He does not wish it to be publicly known quite yet,” whis-~ pered the banker to the gentleman in spectacles: and the worthy Mr. Robson actually believed the truth of his own assertion. The conversation now became more general, as the dessert had made its appearance. De Rosann was surprised at the removal of the table-cloth immediately before this last service; and his wonder was not a little excited when he saw the ladies rise from their seats and leave the room unattended by the gentlemen. His good sense, however, almost instantly assured him that this was one of the pre- vailing customs in England; and he did not suffer any mark of astonishment to escape him. ‘¢ By the bye,”’ said Mr. Robson, when he had passed the decan- ters of port and sherry to his neighbour, “it is true that Wiiliams, the stock-broker, has absconded.” ‘¢ Indeed!” cried he of the seals: ‘* I heard a vague rumour of the affair this morning, but did not attach any importance to it.” ‘¢ Has he decamped with much property ?” enquired Mr. Jenkins, whom we might have dubbed knight of the silver barnaeles. ‘¢T fancy not,” answered the banker: and remarking that De Rosann did not discourse with Lebrun, he explained in French the subject of the present conversation. ‘¢ Such instances, I hope, are rare in this land,” said Alfred with a bitter smile. ‘* In France, the stock-brokers, as well as the law- yers and the notaries, are obliged to give an ample security for the rectitude of their proceedings to the government; and no man can become a stock-broker, without being able to prove that he pos- sesses a certain property.” : ‘Tn that case public confidence is seldom violated,” observed Mr. Robson. ‘¢ Alas! how deeply is it to be deplored that the vices and immo- rality of mankind render such precautions necessary!” cried De Rosann. ‘* No trust ought to be deemed more sacred than the private property of individuals. By a base flight with the treasures placed in your care, you involve the peace and prosperity of thou- sands: you reduce the widow and the orphan to a state of men- dicity ; you deprive the poor of their hard-earned savings, and the industrious of their honourably-acquired competency. So base a breach of all social and moral ties, frequently causes a thousand times more distress than the delinquent might have anticipated. In commercial speculations, there are so many connective links, so many wheels within wheels, that the ruin of one house may origi- nate the fall of twenty. Credit is suspended—the good suffer for the evil—and the upright intentions of the just man are rendered liable to suspicion. As years succeed years, it daily becomes morz dificult for an individual to obtain a loan, save on the most unex- GOmMiGdooksnco =)