Alfred; or, The Adventures of a French Gentleman — page 29: what you’re looking at

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

18 ALFRED; OR ADVENTURES A few days after the departure of La Motte, De Rosann received the following letter, bearing the English post-mark, and dated from Dover:— ‘¢ My dear De Rosann, ‘¢ Now that I am safe and beyond the reach of danger, I feel it my duty to caution you as to the real state of our aflairs, The house must stop payment in less than a fortnight; nothing can avert the blow. I am sorry for you—but I did all I could to prevent it. And now, for God’s sake! take my advice, and leave the country. I need scarcely tell you that the bills drawn on Delisle, Guerin, and Company, are forgeries; and that no procuration of their’s ever authorized such a proceeding, Leave, then, before the fraud be de- tected—and hasten into the Dutch provinces as speedily as you can. My advice is perfectly disinterested, as you must see; I only make you aware of your real situation, as your Ignorance of it can benefit me no longer, and as I do not wish to see you involved in difficulties which you may avoid. ‘“‘ Ever your’s, sincerely, “LA MOTTE. ““ September 7, 1829.” Nothing could exceed the mingled sensations of horror and indigna- tion that filled the breast of De Rosann when he perused this letter. ‘The villain—the reprobate!’ he cried, crushing the fatal epistle in his hands: ‘‘and has he thus dared not only to deceive me, but also to involve me in a crime—a treachery, the consequences of which may be terrible in the extreme? Ze es sorry jor me—the wretch !— for me whom he has basely—cruelly deceived! Oh! how blina—how short-sighted was I not to suspect some duplicity at the bottom of so much precaution! To make me purchase the stamps—to request my aid in drawing up the bills—to withhold the pretended procuration— and to flatter me with his shallow speeches, his moralizing apho- risms, and his toasts! And this is the man who begs me to recollect that his advice is perfectly disinterested! The paltry scoundrel! But the laws of my country are just and merciful—they cannot find me guilty of so heinous a crime: I will throw myself upon my knees before my judge, I will explain all—and this letter will help out my testimony, and speak as evidence in my favour!” — Having thus partly given vent to his indignation in useless invec- tives against the author of his miseries, he was about to proceed to the Commissary of Police of the quarter of the-city in which he resided, and make a full statement of the whole transaction, when a violent knock at the door of his outward apartment made him hesitate a moment ere he put his design into execution. He fondly hoped that the visitor might be Mr. Clayton, to whom he would explain his exact position, and solicit advice. But his wishes were not destined to be evatified in this instance. The clanking of swords, and the heavy tread of boots in the passage, made his blood run cold within him; and when he saw the Gendarmes enter his room, he fell upon the floor, forgetful of his innocence—overcome by the horrors of his situation, and crying, ‘‘ Mercy! Mercy?” But the functionaries of the law had no power to spare nor to con- demn; they were merely charged to secure his person, and leed him EORNIC OOOKS (EO)