Alfred; or, The Adventures of a French Gentleman — page 211: what you’re looking at

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

180 ALFRED; OR ADVENTURES ‘¢ Well, what then?” cried Mr. Clayton, impatiently, while Eloise was ready to die of curiosity to know what the gastronomer could want with De Rosamn. ‘¢©T recollected your apparent intimacy together,” proceeded Champignon; “and having occasion to write to M. De Rosann, I have ventured to trouble you for his address.” ‘© And what the devil have you to say to M. De Rosann’” inquired Mr. Clayton, surveying the comical countenance of the gastronomer with a severe glance, which so terrified the unfor- tunate wretch, that he made a bound upon his chair, and missing the edge fell heavily on the floor. This circumstance restored Mr. Clayton to his usual good, humour; and he said something consolatory to poor Champignon to give him courage, while Eloise offered him a glass of ligueur, which he accepted with many thanks, de aring that it was almost as good as his own, and that he would send up a bottle the moment he returned home. ‘¢ You asked me what I had to say to M. De Rosann,” observed Champignon, when he had swallowed the eau-de-vie de Dantzic, aud placed the glass upon the table: ** I will tell you, since you , know how to treat me with the consideration due to my talents and culinary acquirements. It has been a favourite idea of mine for some time past, to establish a restawrant in every principa! town of France—” ‘¢ A mighty undertaking!” cried Mr. Clayton. ‘Yes; and for a mighty purpose, too,” added the gastronomer. ‘¢ What is it? I am very curious to be acquainted with your schemes.”’ ‘For the purpose of serving up, in the only true and proper manner, my newly invented dish—the cotelettes @ la quadrille. To attain this desirable end, I have caused a number of prospectuses to be printed—” ‘¢ Not under your own name?” interrupted Mr. Clayton. ‘‘ No—certainly not; but under that of Citron, which F have adopted, and which is painted over my shop. Andas M. De Rosann was kind to me on several occasions, I do not doubt but that he will distribute these circulars amongst his friends,” ‘¢ He is in England at this moment,” said Mr. Clayton. ‘¢ So much the better!” cried Champignon: ‘ perhaps he will be able to obtain the consent of some rich bankers or merchants to place their names on my list of shareholders.” ‘Tt is a joint-stock company, then ?” observed Mr. Clayton. “ Precisely : and a very respectable list of names is already down on the subscription-book,” returned Champignon, taking another roll of papers from his pocket. «¢ Have they all paid ?for ready money is the essential.” “Ono; not yet. But I may have the cash when I choose to write for it; as they are every one in situations where coin is of no use to them.” ‘They must be the King’s ministers, at least, if that be the case,” thought Mr. Clayton, in his own mind. “© Pray cast your eyes over the list,” said Champignon, handing GOMiGbDoOoks (E(@)