A Gentleman from Gascony: A Romance of the Huguenots — page 115: what you’re looking at

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

CHAPTER XII. AT THE SIGN OF THE GREEN DRAGON. Tue Green Dragon was doing a thriving business the night after the chevalier’s arrival, and Simon Beppa, congratulating his honest soul upon the fact, was here, there, and everywhere with his two assistants. And in truth the chief room of the inn was a pleasant place to lounge in, outside of the good cheer to be ob- tained there. It was very spacious, occupying the whole centre of the house. At one end was a monumental fireplace, with broad, comfortable wooden settles on either side, and opposite the entrance, which led directly to the street, was a staircase with heavy open balustrades, leading to a sort of wooden balcony or platform jutting - out over the Seine. Through the window could be seen a portion of the Pont Neuf, then in an incomplete state, and the slow- moving waters of the river. On the evening in question, a group of Bohemians, three in number, two girls and a man, were attempting to amuse the guests. They were our old friends of the Gelosi troupe, who brought the chevalier in their van to Saint Germain. Pharos, the male member of the trio, sat upon the ground strumming a guitar, while the girls, Mirza and Pippa, sang and danced graceful Spanish dances. At a table near by were seated three or four soldiers, COMME OOOKS (<(©) im =