Alfred; or, The Adventures of a French Gentleman — page 252: what you’re looking at

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

OF A FRENCH GENTLEMAN. 217 that Belle-Rose was nothing more than a common cheat, and bade him adieu with many kind wishes in favour of his speedy success in business. The postillions whipped their horses, Champignon mounted his donkey, and the two equipages separated to pursue their respective directions. De Rosann was at a loss to conceive whether Belle-Rose had purposely or inadvertently calumniated him in the presence of Mr. Clayton. He did not think his ancient companion was of a malignant disposition: but he knew full well that Belle-Rose seldom opened his lips without uttering an untruth, or exaggerating a trifle till it became an affair of importance. Our hero was more- over aware that Belle-Rose did not know of the engagement sub- sisting between him and Eloise—unless, indeed, Mr. Clayton had informed him of it during this last visit of the chevalier d’industrie to St. Malo. He however persuaded himself that the evil was not irreparable; he buoyed himself up with the hopes held out by Eloise inher letter; and he again satisfactorily contemplated the numerous advocates in his favour which he had lately accumu- lated. Our readers may readily suppose that on De Rosann’s arrival at Meurice’s hotel in Paris, the first step he took towards a recon- ciliation with Mr. Clayton, was to obey the injunctions of Eloise, and write a long letter to the incensed uncle, explaining the cir- cumstances which were connected with Selina, and of which we have given full and ample accounts in preceding chapters. He detailed undisguisedly the confessions of that unfortunate girl— minutely narrated every step he took in the disagreeable and embarrassing position her love placed him in—and concluded his defence by requesting Mr. Clayton to seek a corroboration from Selina herself, and to inquire of Mr. Robson if he had ever been applied to for his consent to the marriage of De Rosann and his daughter. Alfred annexed to his letter the address of the worthy banker, and implored Mr. Clayton to lose no time in writing to obtain a satisfactory reply that might lead to a rectification of the misunderstanding, and do a calumniated individual a justice but too well merited. He did not, however, explain any other of his adventures, being still resolved to reserve for himself the pleasure of producing an agreeable surprise when his character in Mr. Clayton's estimation should be re-established—an event to which he looked forward with the utmost impatience. Having concluded his lengthy epistle, he carried it himself to the Rue des Pyramides, and was rejoiced to find that the family had returned to the lodgings it formerly occupied ere change of air and scenery was recommended to Eloise, and caused the removal to St. Malo. Having thus obeyed the dictates of his own judgment as well as the advice of Eloise, our hero hastened to discharge another im- portant duty ; and he lost no time in proceeding to-the Rue de la Chanoinesse with the bills and other effects he had been autho- rised to receive for the mysterious Leblond. Our hero alighted from a cabriolet, which he had hired, opposite a gloomy house in the Rue de la Chunoinesse, and enquired for 22 CECORNICOOOKS.EO