Mezzoni the Brigand — page 145: what you’re looking at

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

APES eC. nee, Pik « i | ag 7 ; MEZZONI THE BRIGAND. | 137 opened without ceremony, and she found herself con- fronted by the officers of the law. “What does this mean?”’ she asked, indignantly. ‘“Signora, we must search your rooms,”’ said the detective. ‘“By what authority ?”’ ‘That of the law.’’ At the same moment a window was heard to open within the chamber, and the detective springing past the countess, burst open the door, and entered. One officer had been left in front of the palace, on the street, the other two had come up with him. As he entered the chamber he saw the form of a man preparing to leap out of the window. Seizing him by the arm, a struggle at once took place, and the man, now plainly seen to be Alberto, fell into the room, but the detective was under him. The Italian resorting to the national weapon, the dagger, struck at the officer’s heart, but fortunately gave him only a severe flesh wound. It was deep enough to disable him for a moment. All this had taken place so quickly that the other officers had not even entered the room, but coming upon the scene of action now, they discovered AI- berto just lowering himself from the window, and at the English detective’s order, one of them fired his revolver after him, while the other rushed down stairs to intercept the fugitive when he should make his exit upon the street. ‘‘Are you seriously hurt?’ asked the officer who had fired at the retreating man. ‘No, no, hasten outside, follow him,”’ said the de- tective, getting upon his feet. The countess, in the meantime, hearing the strug- gle in her chamber, and the report of fire-arms, had €O Gomicbooks