Alfred; or, The Adventures of a French Gentleman — page 235: what you’re looking at

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

902 ALFRED: OR ADVENTURES | hanging in front. No sooner did the lamp move from its place, than Alfred felt himself suddenly relieved of the load from his back, and, starting up, he ascertained, by the glimmering rays of light, that the robber who had kept him down was struggling in the vigorous grasp of the postillion. De Rosann lost not a minute, but rushed upon the remaining highway-man who was about to commence his examination of the carriage, and levelled him to the ground with a blow of the pistol which had exploded. He then relieved the postillion of his charge, by tying the robber’s arms and legs with some cordage he hastily cut from one of his trunks, and, rolling him into a dry ditch at the side of the road whither the post-boy had at first retired for refuge, and whence he had emerged when a favourable opportunity of putting an end to the combat presented itself. That opportunity was discovered by the rays of the lantern which was detached from its place to aid the thief in the investigation of the baggage, as detailed above. Our hero was about to jump into the chaise and continue his journey, when one cf the robbers, that lay stretched upon the road, gave a loud groan. De Rosann seized the lantern from the hands of the postillion, who was going to restore it to its place, and drew near to assist the sufferer. The exclamation issued from the individual De Rosann had thrown against the wheel. When the -ays of the feeble light fell upon the pale countenance of the falien man, Alfred uttered a cry of surprise and horror—for he recognised the features of his ancient antagonist Markham ! A sudden idea struck the mind of our hero. Belle-Rose haa called upon him in the morning, and had remained a quarter of an hour in the room he occupied at the hotel, where Leblond’s letter was lying open upon the table. No sooner did De Rosann recall these circumstances to his memory, than he ran to the second robber, who lay senseless upon the ground, approached the lamp to his face, and, as he had anticipated, discovered his former com- panion Belle-Rose! He did not stay to trouble himself about the third—but, horror-stricken at the dreadful events which had just happened, and trembling for the future fate of his miserable fellow- countryman, he leapt into the carriage, and was soon far away from the spot where the combat had taken place. He did not forget to thank the Almighty that no blood had been spilt, and that he had so narrowly escaped being despoiled of his most valuable possessions. ‘¢ Had the miserable wretches succeeded in this vile attempt, ’ said De Rosann to himself, as the post-chaise rolled onward, “ I should have been undone for ever. The treasure with which I am entrusted would be now in their possession; and my tale would stand but a poor chance of pacifying the owners of those riches on my arrival at Paris. But fortune is wearied of tormenting me; and has doubtless turned her capricious resentment against other unhappy beings, who at this moment are deploring her harshness. And to such a degraded abyss of infamy is Belle-Rose reduced ! He, that only’a few weeks ago was proud of his comparative guilt- lessness when put in competition with the turpitude of other men, [email protected]©