A Gentleman from Gascony: A Romance of the Huguenots — page 58: what you’re looking at

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

54 A GENTLEMAN FROM GASCONY. Rose made no reply to this, but her face showed that the opportunity the chevalier desired would not be one of unmixed pleasure to her. “There, monsieur,” she said, to change the subject, and waving her hand toward the table upon which was spread the best that the house afforded. “There, mon- sieur, I hope that will please you, though of course it is not what you have been accustomed to.” “ My dear madame,” returned Raoul, enthusiastically, “T assure you this is the best meal I have had for months!” Rose stared, dumb with surprise. What! Her modest providing the best meal that this phenomenally rich seigneur had had for months! Raoul in a moment saw his mistake, but before he could invent some explanation of his thoughtless words, Rose broke forth in a gay peal of laughter. “ Monsieur is a true Gascon!’”’ she said, between her bursts of merriment. “ He cannot refrain from compliments, no matter how absurd they may be.” De Puycadére breathed freely. He was saved. “No compliment to madame could be absurd,” he replied gallantly. “Oh, monsieur, you make me blush.” “And the blush becomes you.” The little landlady could not conceal her pleasure at the words and the look of admiration accompanying them. The handsome young Gascon had made a de- cided impression upon her susceptible, and, it must be confessed, somewhat fickle nature. | “Ah!” she said with a sigh, half admiration, half envy, “how fortunate monsieur is! How happy one must be, not even to be able to count his fortune!” “Yes, yes. I enjoy that happiness,” said Raoul, GComichbooks:co