A Gentleman from Gascony: A Romance of the Huguenots — page 93: what you’re looking at

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

\ ‘ aad - * + ne ~ - THE EVE OF SAINT BARTHOLOMEW. 89 “That I wear in obedience to a promise given.” “And you know not its meaning?” Had the light from the lantern not been shining full in Raoul’s eyes and so dazzled his sight, he might have noticed that Simon Beppa also wore a band of white linen on his arm. “Meaning, no! Explain yourself!” “Oh! Master Raoul!’ ejaculated Beppa, now beside himself with terror, not on his own account, but on ac- count of the son of his old master, “I implore you come with me and I will hide you in the Green Dragon.” “Hide!” exclaimed the chevalier, now quite out of patience with Beppa’s extraordinary behavior. “No, not a step do I go, till this mystery is explained.” “And there is no time to be lost,” groaned Simon, wringing his hands. Then, as if taken with a desper- ate resolution, he went on breathlessly: “‘ Master Raoul, it is death for a Huguenot to be in the streets this night. In five minutes the bell of Saint Germain 1’ Auxerrois will give the signal for a general massacre.” In horrified incredulity, Raoul seized the other by the arm. “Impossible!” he gasped. “*"Tis true. Oh, believe me, before it is too late. ’Tis by the order of the king and the Duke of Guise. and the admiral is to be the first victim.” “Coligny!” « Yes. 9 “But how do you know this?” “As I told you, I go withthe times. I—I am a Cath- olic now.”’ Raoul knew the former steward well, and, his first amazement gone, he was convinced that he was speak- ing the truth, Comichoo S (¢(©)