Penny Blood Serial Cover — page 82: what you’re looking at

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

74 ALFRED DE ROSANN. tore his wig from his head, and broke the bottle of wine in the scuffle. The precious juice drenched Champignon’s small-clothes throughout, and ran upon the floor in many meandering streams. This lament- able sight only irritated the already outrageous ter- magant the more ; and God knows how the conflict might have ended with regard to Champignon, had it not been interrupted by the timely aid of the Gendarmes. | ‘Is that the thief, Felicité ?”’ shrieked the landlady, pointing to Champignon, when she. had partially recovered breath. “ Thief ! No—mother : that’s the poor man who is condemned for having made pies of dead bodies.”’ A roar of laughter followed this declaration, while Champignon, stupid with astonishment, rage, and terror, could not find words to justify himself against so awful an accusation. “In the name of God, explain these mysteries, Felicite,’’ eried the exasperated parent, when silence was again established. : ‘‘ Mother,”? replied the girl, “I told you uncle Thomas took the fowls, which I gave him ; and heis amongst those prisoners.’’ | ‘¢ Where—where—O where is my poor brother ??’ whimpered the landlady, her wrath subsiding into tears. “There !’”? answered Felicite, pointing to Belle- Rose. “That my brother Thomas! that your uncle !?7 cried the woman in a contemptuous tone of voice. ‘“ No—no: Thomas never was such a mannikin as that !”’ ‘ “Fle grew a foot and a half shorter in one night, mamma !”? > “¢ Begone, insolence !” roared the infuriate mother, dealing a tremendous box on the ears to her daughter, who ran out of the room weeping bitterly. “You cruel old jade!’? cried Belle-Rose, really pitying the unfortunate girl. “I deceived your poor CORE OOOKS. CO -