The American Marquis by Nick Carter — page 38: what you’re looking at

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

34 ‘THE AMERICAN MARQUIS. _ To me, yes. But I’m afraid you will laugh at me. Well, I confess I am imaginative. But do you know I - could fancy that this blotted register means—but I’m afraid you will laugh at me.” _ he mayor looked far more like fainting than laughing, but he contrived to emit a ghostly ‘‘ he, he.” | ~*€Oh, I knew you would laugh.” Monsieur Roche was as calm and frigid as an iceberg. __ ** However, this is what I could fancy: A midnight mar-: _ Yrilage.” | | ‘The mayor gasped and clutched his chair, at the same time making a horrible attempt to treat the matter asa _ joke. | _ +*€ Masked faces.” Another gasp. __ ** Whispered responses; hush money for the mayor, who _ should carry his register to a deserted chateau.” - Grand Dieu!” _ The mayor sank a ghastly object in his chair. _ **T’'wo men murdered with a club; a fruitless inquest; a bloody club found and suppressed by the mayor.” Oh, mercy, mercy, monsieur! Indeed I am not as guiltyasit seems. Surely, if you know so much, you must know that I intended no wrong.” The mayor was groveling abjectly at the feet of his visitor. | a , __ **Will you answer my questions truthfully if I promise that you shall not bé prosecuted ?” Pog Sl — *€ Ag there is a God above us!” Feel CHAPTER X. Dak THE MAYOR’S STORY AND ITS SEQUEL. Tell me all you know about the marriage.” «Why, monsieur, the banns were first regularly pub- lished at the church.” 3 , ie “«'There is a record of them, then, giving the names?” ‘¢ No, the record was destroyed.” Ah! and by whom? But no matter; go on.” _ *€ After the banns, a man came to me and said _ *€ Was the man a Frenchman?” Yes, monsieur, but not a gentleman. He said that the 33 comicbooks,.com