Penny Blood Serial Cover — page 187: what you’re looking at

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

ALFRED DE ROSANN. 179 visit the black gentleman to whom I was so uncivilly recommended. The whole of that weary day did I wander about the wood, and at night-fall, just as I had made up my mind to emerge into the open fields, a sudden rustling amongst the leaves, succeeded by violent shouts of laughter, made me again take toa rapid flight and conceal myself for another hour. When those sixty long minutes had expired, I sallied forth once more ; and after a tolerably tedious walk, I at length came to a large cottage, where lights were still burning. I knocked, and was this time received with civility, if not with absolute kindness. Accord- ing to my native modesty, I merely requested an outhouse, or the pigstye, to sleep in, naturally ex- pecting to be offered a bed. But the peasant, to whom the cottage belonged, took me at my word, and conducted your humble servant to the pigstye. To indemnify me, however, for this bad lodging, he produced a copious supper, which was not indifferently cooked, by-the-bye—and the following morning he made me a present of a suit of clothes, because my own were rather dirty, on account of a battle which took place between me and the pig.” ¢ And then what became of you ?”’ inquired Belle- Rose, seeing that Champignon hesitated. ‘¢ You shall hear in a moment: but first, allow me to recover a little breath.” “ As much as you like,’ returned Belle-Rose: “only make haste, for it will shortly be time for us to think of breakfast.’’ ‘In that case,’’ said Champignon, “Iam at your service : listen. Nothing of importance occurred the day before yesterday—nor yesterday, until the even- ing. I begged a dinner at about two or three o’clock from some. worthy peasants, who did not inundate me with stupid questions, and then tell me to go to the devil, like the uncouth father of little Jeannette : but they gave me some soup, in which they had not put enough salt, and some bouzlli boiled to rags. I, however, accepted their bounty with many thanks, and merely hinted to them the defects I found in the COMNCHIOOKS (C@)