A Gentleman from Gascony: A Romance of the Huguenots — page 185: what you’re looking at

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

BENEATH THE SHADOW OF THE AXE. 181 At first, he fancied he had been shot at, but in an- other moment his eye rested upon the packet. Picking it up, he saw that it was aslip of paper wrapped about a stone. He unrolled it hastily, and, taking it to the smoky lantern which illumined with its faint light his gloomy place of imprisonment, he per- ceived that there was writing upon the paper. Holding it close to the lantern, he succeeded in de- ciphering the following words: “ Friends are near. A sure plan is laid for your escape. fold yourself in readiness.” In an. instant his whole mood changed. What! There was a chance for him still! He dragged the stool to the table, and eagerly scruti- nized the handwriting. No, it was unknown to him. But friends, friends were near! Meanwhile, Griffo had drawn the bottle from the basket and uncorked it. Raising it to his mouth, he took a long draught. “Nectar! Veritable nectar!” he declared, half clos- ing his eyes in ecstacy and smacking his lips with gusto. “And yet the pestilent heretics say that the holy fathers do not live well. By the way, what is the name of your father, my dear?” Mirza, who was rejoicing over the success of the first step in the scheme for the liberation of the chevalier, which had been so carefully planned out by herself and the other members of her tribe, answered demurely: “My father? Oh, his name is Valpin, and he is the miller of Montmartre.” | “Valpin,” repeated the sentinel, with another pull at the bottle. “A worthy man and a good Catholic, I doubt me not. I drink to his health. And what is your name, my pretty wild-flower?” Conmmleloooks (CO)