A Gentleman from Gascony: A Romance of the Huguenots — page 135: what you’re looking at

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

A PORT IN A STORM. 131 Goujon’s voice as best he could, and lurching forward as if in an advanced stage of intoxication. “ A citizen swears he saw the Huguenot climbing one of the piers of the bridge.” “Bah! He’s drunk. And to be drunk—hic—after curfew time is to be punishable by law. Take him to the guard-house and give him—hic—the strappado.” The stratagem was evidently working well. None of the four men seemed to have the least suspicion that it was not the sergeant who stood or rather staggered before them. Nevertheless Raoul realized that at any moment all might be discovered. He could distinctly hear Goujon’s snores, and, moreover, the moon had risen and was flooding the scene with its soft light. “But, sergeant,’’ remonstrated Griffo. “Not a word,” broke in his soi-disant superior with a drunken flourish andswagger. ‘“ Respect your sergeant. When you’ve caught the heretic, bring him—hic—be- fore me. I’ll go to the tavern and sleep.” And he reeled forward, the laughing soldiers making ready way for him. _ “But, Griffo,” he said, turning with a sudden lurch and almost upsetting the tradesman who was just be- hind him. “ What’s the password? I’ve—hic—forgot- ten it.” “ Lorraine.” “Lorraine! hic—too good a name to come from a dry throat. I’ll drink itin a bumper. MHere’s a health to the—hic—what do you call it? With a clink and a clank—with a s And he proceeded on his way, tottering from side to side, but still with eyes and ears open, and with one hand firmly clinched on the hilt of his sword, so that he could draw it at a moment’s notice, should occasion Cconmileloooks (©)