A Gentleman from Gascony: A Romance of the Huguenots — page 24: what you’re looking at

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

20 A GENTLEMAN FROM GASCONY. majesty of a turkey-cock, gave his breast a resounding slap, and turning to his wife, said: “Ah! I perceive a good friend of mine, my dear, a very good friend, the noble Vicomte de Vrissac,” and his tongue seemed to roll over the title as if it had been a toothsome morsel. “One word with him, and I must away. You understand of course—although, by the beard of St. Bridget, Annibal Goujon is too long-headed to confide his secrets to a woman—how serious are the motives which compel me to absent myself from you to-day. Remember, I leave in your hands all my interests. ”’ “ And when do you return?” asked Rose, indifferently. “T do not know,” and he eyed her in a half-suspicious manner, then continuing with emphasis, “but act pre- cisely as if I were about to return the very next instant.” Did Rose shrug her shoulders at this veiled threat? Goujon was not quite sure, not sure enough at all events to take any notice of it. So, contenting himself with what he had already said, he placed one pudgy finger beneath his wife’s dimpled chin, and, bending forward, imprinted a kiss upon her lips—a salute not too well rel- ished by the recipient, if one were to judge by the moue she made the moment her lord and master had turned his back. Straight to the van strutted the portly sergeant, thor- oughly convinced in his own mind that he was the observed of all observers, the envied of all enviers. As the younger of the two noblemen caught sight of him, he burst out laughing, and, turning to his com- panion, began some jesting remark little flattering to the vanity of the self-satisfied sergeant had he heard it; but, fortunately for the latter’s conceit, the words were cut short by a low, quick “Chut!” from De Vrissac. Eomichboo <S) (E(@) im =