A Gentleman from Gascony: A Romance of the Huguenots — page 52: what you’re looking at

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

48 A GENTLEMAN FROM GASCONY. for,” she retorted, indignantly. “He was not present to protect me from insult.” “Oh, there will be plenty of time for him to protect you,” laughed the duke, delighted at an opportunity to tease the young girl. “When he is your husband!” “That he will never be!” ‘He swears he will!” ‘And J swear he shall zot/” And in her exaspera- tion, Gabrielle clenched her hands until the nails in- dented the pink palms. The duchess made a movement to interrupt, but, upon second thought refrained. Her gaze was fixed anxiously upon her son. The effects of the wine the young man had imbibed at the Rising Sun and else- where, doubtless augmented by the heat of the room, were becoming more and more apparent. His eyes burned with a increased hectic light, and he staggered a little as he leaned back against a table. “Time will tell,” he answered, with a laugh which ended in the suspicion of a hiccough. “You did not need Hector this time at all events. You had another protector, and a worthy one, forsooth! A ragged vagabond——” “ He is no vagabond!” protested Gabrielle, hotly. “And a Huguenot,” proceeded the duke, without noticing the interruption. “A Huguenot!” he re- peated, and the word seemed to inflame still further his already ovetheated brain. “May the devil, saving your presence, fly away with them all! Enemies to church and State, they should be ob—obliterated, root and branch! Root and branch! Ay, and so they will be, before four and twenty hours have passed over our head. Oh! Hector knows! Ask him! And I know, 1 know too!” — GComichbooks*7co: