A Gentleman from Gascony: A Romance of the Huguenots — page 78: what you’re looking at

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

74 A GENTLEMAN FROM GASCONY. king put his hand a little roughly on her head and made her lower it in token of assent. However this may be, upon the night of the reception of the Louvre the two appeared to be on the most ex- cellent terms with one another. Marguerite was gra- cious and smiling, and her kingly husband was cordial- ity itself. Raoul bowed his knee before his sovereigns with many an inward tremor. It was only by the exercise of a powerful will that he kept himself from turning tail and incontinently running away, and more than once he longed for the floor to open and swallow him up. And yet, in spite of all his trouble, he realized dimly that standing at the side of the queen was a golden- haired figure in robes of shimmering white. As to one speaking a long distance away, he listened to the high-pitched voice of the old master of ceremo- nies, addressing the king: “May it please your Majesty, I have the honor to present his excellency the ambassador from Gascony. He insists on giving into your Majesty’s own hand his letters of credit, and, although it is contrary to all es- tablished rules of etiquette, I beg grace of your most high, most mighty, most merciful, most gracious——” “And most weary,” curtly interrupted Henri, who had a hatred of long speeches and pompous orations. The count retired in confusion, while the young queen raised a fan to her lips to conceal the smile which she could not wholly repress. Suddenly Raoul became aware that the king was speaking to him: “Your credentials, young sir!” With a gulp and turning ghastly pale, the chevalier = GOMIchoo S (e(o ee in