A Gentleman from Gascony: A Romance of the Huguenots — page 59: what you’re looking at

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

BORROWED PLUMES. 55 drily and with perfect truth; for, not possessing a soli- tary sou, how could he be able to count it? During the preceding conversation, a girl had entered the room, and, seeing Madame Goujon, had timidly approached. “Madame Goujon.” At the sound of her name, Rose turned. “Ah! is it you, Mirza?” she said, pleasantly enough. “Is Sergeant Goujon at home?” asked the Tzigana, in evident embarrassment. “The sergeant is away on duty.” “T--I wanted,” faltered Mirza, glancing shyly at Raoul, who was attacking with a vim the good things before him, “ but I am afraid I intrude.”’ De Puycadére looked up with a smile. “A young lady so charming as yourself, Mademoi- selle Mirza, can never intrude where I am,” he said. These words were by no means to Madame Goujon’s liking. She was too avaricious of the chevalier’s pretty speeches to share them with any one else. “Well, speak, what do you want?” she asked a little tartly, at the same time placing herself adroitly be- tween Raoul and the gypsy. : “I do not dare to say,” murmured Mirza, lowering hereyes. “I am afraid of a refusal.” Raoul tilted back his chair, thus spoiling Rose’s little ruse. : “ Reassure yourself, mignonne,” he said, encourag- ingly, “our good Madame Goujon does not know how to refuse. Come! Madame Goujon, lend this little girl your sweet holiday smile and give her the courage she lacks.” The persuasive accents quite melted Rose’s temporary resentment. ‘What a man!” she thought to herself. Comichoo S (©