Alfred; or, The Adventures of a French Gentleman — page 62: what you’re looking at

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

ALFRED; OR ADVENTURES 49 ‘¢ Nonsense, my dear Belle-Rose,” exciaimed tne voice 3 ‘ look towards the guichet.” ‘¢ Nothing is more easy,” replied the convict; ‘ but as for seeing any thing, that is quite different.” ‘¢ Well, well; ’tis I—your friend.” ‘¢ And who the devil is my frend ?” ‘¢ Auguste Ledoux, that was,” said the voice. ‘¢ And what is he now?” asked Belle-Rose. ‘¢ Auguste Leblond,” was the answer. ‘¢ The ship is always the same, I hope, notwithstanding the change of colours,” remarked Belle-Rose, coolly. ‘¢ Precisely,” said the man at the guichet. ‘¢ But wherefore another name amongst friends?” ‘¢ My dear Belle-Rose, I serve a good cause, and you must join me. Asa proof of my gratitude towards an old friend, and of my unalterable principles, Iam now about to render you a most im- portant service. Who is with you?” “We are three.” ‘‘ Who are they ?” ‘‘ Friends. One is a drunken cook, fast asleep; the other is a young man whom you may trust.” ‘‘Is he Alfred de Rosann?” inquired Leblond, hastily. ‘‘The same,” replied Belle-Rose, while the youth’s heart beat quickly. ‘Thank God! then my task is easily and soon done!” exclaimed the mysterious individual at the guzchet. “Do you know, Leblond—” began Belle-Rose. What.” ‘¢ That I begin to think you are talking infernal nonsense,” added the convict, coolly. ‘¢ Patience—patience, I implore; and you will be convinced of my wish to serve your interests.’ ‘Well, then, I will not interrupt you.” ‘‘Of course,” said Leblond, in a whisper still, ‘* you do not intend to remain long at Brest?” ‘¢ Not longer than you and I did at Toulon,” was the significant answer. ‘‘ You must escape with De Rosann, my dear Belle-Rose ; 1t is absolutely necessary that yon should aid each other.” ‘Tt was already my intention,” returned Pierre. ‘¢ That is as it should be, and all will go on well. Here are two passports for you, signed at the Prefecture de Police at Paris, and made out for Brest, St. Malo, or Havre-de-grace;” and with these words Leblond threw a paper parcel into the cachot. ‘< Mille tonnérres!”’ exclaimed Belle-Rose, in the greatest pos- sible astonishment; ‘‘ how did you procure these documents ?” ‘‘That must remain a mystery. To-morrow morning, when you read them by daylight, the correctness of their contents will prove the truth of what I have already affirmed relative to my wish and power to serve you: it will moreover help to convince you of the necessity of following the line of conduct I shall now chalk out.” 7 ECOMMICMOOKSa EGO