A Gentleman from Gascony: A Romance of the Huguenots — page 121: what you’re looking at

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

AT THE SIGN OF THE GREEN DRAGON. 117 Poor Goujon’s face, which had been wreathed in smiles at the first words, fell woefully at the uncompli- mentary conclusion. He was so confused that amidst the general laughter he tripped over his sword and only with difficulty re- covered himself. “ Do you doubt my courage, monseigneur?” he asked, attempting to brave it out, although his face was as red aS a poppy. : “Not I!” replied the duke with careless contempt. “I knew you for a bragging coward long ago. But here!” And motioning him to follow, he led the way a little apart from the others, and pausing as it chanced not three steps from where Raoul was standing in the shadow, so that each word of the conversation that en- sued was distinctly audible to the involuntary eaves- dropper. “Well, my prince of go-betweens, old Sir Pandarus,” ' began De Bassompierre, still daintily inhaling the essence of his vinaigrette, “is the girl amenable to Treason?” “The girl is an ill-conditioned wench,” replied Gou- jon. “She stands upon her honor.” “Honor!” laughed the duke. “The honor of a Bohemian! Let her give me its weight in gold pieces, and the bargain’s concluded.” “I—I have told monseigneur, that she will make no terms.” “Then we will try what force can do. Chut! She is there!” And he nodded toward where the little band of Tzigani were gathering up their paraphernalia and preparing to depart. As the eyes of the young duke fell upon the dark beauty of Mirza, an expression crossed his handsome Comichoo S (©)