Alfred; or, The Adventures of a French Gentleman — page 240: what you’re looking at

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

OF A FRENCH GENTLEMAN. 905 call first on a family—the family of Mrs. Clayton—do you know the name—it is English ?”’ ‘¢So inconceivably short is my memory,” returned the host, ‘¢ that affairs indispensably —” ‘‘T know the family this gentleman alludes to,” interrupted the porter: ‘the lady and gentleman, whose daughter died the day before yesterday.” ‘Died !” exclaimed Alfred, a cold perspiration running down his forehead. ‘‘ A young lady of the name of Clayton ?” ‘¢ Yes—Playton—that is the name,” rejoined the porter. ‘¢OQne whom fame loudly reports to have been an extraordinarily renowned actress,” said the landlord. ‘It is unanswerably proved that she had three illegitimately begotten children—” ‘¢Thank God!’ cried De Rosann, relieved from a sudden and terrible fear, while the host and the porter wondered why he should express his gratitude to Providence because the deceased actress had been guilty of a breach of continence and chastity, and had ieft behind her living proofs of her frailty. ‘‘ Yes—God is indubitably to be thanked,” added the obsequious landlord, determined not to differ in opinion with his guest, “ for having mercifully taken the life of the young lady, before she rapidly peopled the town with children infamously conceived.” The trunks were at length lifted from the post-chaise, and carried by De Rosann’s orders to the apartment he was destined to occupy according to the directions of the landlord. Our hero hastily changed his clothes, and performed his‘toilet; and, having con- signed certain documents to his pocket, he sallied forth to call upon his beloved Eloise. The porter of the hotel was soon found to conduct’ him to the house where he anticipated to hear pro- nounced the final fiat that should stamp his happiness or his misery, and divest him of suspense. Butthe fears were few, and the hopes were many and sanguine that filled the breast of our hero, as he hurried along the street towards the dwelling he was so anxious to reach. ‘< Now,” thought he to bimself, as he knocked at the door and dismissed the porter back again to the hotel,—‘“ now let me reap a ‘reward for all my past sufferings, or find that I have laboured fruitlessly and in vain!” | 9 Sea CHAPTER XXIX. UNWELCOME NEWS. Wuen Belle-Rose came to himself, and partially recovered his senses, he felt a dreadful chill, which had taken possession of his whole body. At first he was at a loss to ascertain where he was; but as his scattered ideas gradually concentrated and furnished his memory with the power of reflection, he called to mind all that had passed; and instead of repenting of the daring deed he had contemplated, he vented his indignation in curses against its failure. The nignt was pitcn dark—the rain still fell in torrents— CORNICLOOKSaCO