A Gentleman from Gascony: A Romance of the Huguenots — page 31: what you’re looking at

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

SHADOWS BEFORE. 29 found himself face to face with the Tzigani. Then it all flashed back upon him—the departure from home, the meeting with the gypsies, the sudden attack. “ Are you better, monsieur?’’ said a timid voice, that of Mirza. “Yes, yes. So, my pretty one, part of your prophecy has already come true.”’ “ Hélas, yes, monsieur. And had we not come along in time for Pharos and Ismael to beat off the ruffians, your plight might have been worse.” “Brave fellows!” and he grasped a hand of each of the gypsies. The crowd had pressed closer and was standing gap- ing with curiosity. As Raoul de Puycadére observed this, the absurdity of the situation dawned upon him, and a sudden impulse seized him. He would satisfy their curiosity. He possessed much of the love of ro- mancing which seems to be the birthright of every true Gascon and which has given rise to that very expressive word “gasconade.” So, with a twinkle in his eye, he began: “Mordiou! What is the meaning of all those open mouths and those noses in the air? Good people, you are surprised, are you not, to see a gentleman in such a state? Know then——” “Listen! listen!” “ Know then,” continued Raoul, half telling the truth and half drawing on his imagination—“ Know then that three leagues from here I was assailed, I and my people, by a gang of scurvy scamps, who, not content with robbing me of my horses and equipages and the considerable sums contained in my coffers, after leaving me for dead at the cost of fifteen of their band dis- patched by me, in a most cowardly manner took ad- ' Cconmileloooks (S©)