A Gentleman from Gascony: A Romance of the Huguenots — page 76: what you’re looking at

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

72 A. GENTLEMAN FROM GASCONY, body before him with elaborate courtesy, and in ame other moment had addressed him in a thin, monotonous voice: “Pardon, a thousand times pardon, your excellency, but for many years has been incumbent upon me the honorable and delicate mission of exacting at the Louvre the fulfilment of the immutable laws of eti- quette.” He paused a moment to take breath, while Raoul wondered uneasily what this long preamble might forebode. “And I recognize to my confusion that a very grave infringement has been committed in respect to you!” “ An infringement!” muttered the self-styled amnats sador with a qualm of uneasiness. “Yes, monsieur, and I must beg your excellency without delay to furnish me with——” “Well?” “Your letters of credit.” Audacity must be the cue now, and again audacity, and still again audacity. “Oh, very well, very well, monsieur,” replied Raoul, with an assumption of easy carelessness. ‘‘ We Gascons do not insist to such a point upon all little details of etiquette. I excuse your forgetfulness, Let us speak no more of it.” The dignified master of ceremonies started as if he had been shot. “Speak no more of it!” he exclaimed, in boundless surprise and indignation. “Speak no more of it!” “Certainly not, my dear count,” was the cool reply. “My instructions are to present my letter and offer Gascony’s congratulations to their Majesties in person. Mordiou, kindly conduct me into the presence without more ado.” : Gomicbooks cc inn =