Alfred; or, The Adventures of a French Gentleman — page 178: what you’re looking at

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

OF A FRENCH GENTLEMAN. 149 M. dElsigny?’ cried Robson, fearful that his companion was about to amuse him with the history of the twelve peers of Char- lemagne, and to connect all the heroes of yore to the divers branches of his family. ‘«¢ Exactly, Mr. Robson; to that point I should have come at last ; because, whether I borrow some ready cash of you, and leave these documents as security, or whether I deposit them with my notary in Paris, and obtain the necessary funds, which are not very considerable, from him, it is the same to me.” ‘¢ What is the amount you so generously advanced to my young friend, De Rosann ?”’ inquired Mr. Robson. : ‘¢ Twenty thousand francs,” was the modest reply. ‘¢T would not give half that money to possess your documents,” said the hanker, in a decided tone of voice. ‘‘ With four hundred pounds sterling I can terminate the whole affair: advertise to request the witnesses to come forward—pay the French lawyers’ fees in Paris for collecting as many proofs as possible—remunerate the various agents employed in the business,—in fine, with half the sum you advanced to my young friend, I shall be able to arrange every thing to my satisfaction. I speak as a banker, and as a man of business, M. Le Comte: you must excuse me, but the security you offer is scarcely worth ten thousand francs to me, and nothing at all to any one else.” ‘¢ And supposing,—merely a supposition, you know,’’— said Belle-Rose, ‘that I offered to deposit these papers for that sum, should you be inclined to advance the money ?” ‘¢ Why—TI do not exactly know—there may be no objection: I have funds belonging to De Rosann in my hands; and he has given me carte blanche to act for him as I choose,” mused the banker audibly. ‘¢ T lost a large sum last night, at play, to our ambassador, with whom I am very intimate; by the bye, I replaced him at Vienna for a short time, the year before last—’’ ‘¢ M. d’Elsigny is a diplomatist,” said Mr. Robson. ‘¢ OQ yes; and a colonel in the army too,” answered Belle-Rose. ‘‘ In that case I cannot refuse you the little advance you re- quire,’’ exclaimed the banker, suffering it to appear that the rank, titles, family, and numerous appointments of Belle-Rose, had ori- ginated this sudden resolution in his favour. It was now that Mr. Robson made use of the sot-disant Count’s own falsehoods as weapons against him. ‘¢ Of course, you have a good account open with your banker in Paris, Monsieur d’Hlsigny.”’ “ O certainly ; this accommodation is merely temporary.” ‘‘T thought so: in that case you will be so kind as to sign an agreement, by which the documents become my own exclusive property, if you do not repay me within the space of one fortnight. This is merely as a matter of form, you know; because your for- tune and rank in life can always command ten thousand francs— it would be strange if you could not—eh ! eh!” ‘ Thank God! the chateau d’Elsigny exists still!” cried Belle- i EOLMICLOOOKS nO S. £2