A Gentleman from Gascony: A Romance of the Huguenots — page 56: what you’re looking at

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

52 A GENTLEMAN FROM GASCONY. off beside the bed, plunged his face in a basin of cold water, and made his soiled and tattered clothes as decent as possible, which, with all his efforts, however, was not much to boast of. Then going to the window he drew aside the curtain and flung open the casement, murmuring laughingly, as he did so: “Enter, my friend the sun, and take a seat!” And in truth it seemed as if his sunship did not dis- dain the invitation, for from its position low down on the horizon it flooded the modest room with a wealth .of mellow rays. The place below was very quiet now, most of the rev- ellers having departed or retired temporarily to their various abodes for supper, and Raoul, leaning his head upon his hands, drew in long draughts of the cool even- ing air. Just below him was the little arbor, through the vines of which he had first beheld the entrancing vision of— Gabrielle. Gabrielle who? Ay, that he must set him- self to discover without delay. How lovely she was! How sparkling! How pure! And this jewel of great price he had sworn to make his own! And that oath he would keep, though fifty ill-tempered cousins and guardians thrust their ugly jowls between! His roseate reflections were interrupted by a gentle tap upon the door, which, meeting at first with no re- sponse, was repeated more vigorously. With his castles in Spain thus rudely shattered, the chevalier turned impatiently and cried out: “Enter! Mordiou! Enter then!” But all his resentment vanished, as the door opened, disclosing the blushing, smiling face of his kind-hearted landlady. (E(@) peg ~~ era Comicbooks