Beautiful Rienzi; or, The secret vendetta — page 238: what you’re looking at

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

BEAUTIFUL RIENZI. 233 ‘* How far are we from New York?” The woman showed her glittering teeth. ‘‘Tamachild. I have yet to learn.” It was useless to attempt extracting any information from the gipsy queen. I began to ask her about things she was more conversant with. ‘«‘ Sweet lady, your brow bears a message which I cannot read,” said Adynma; ‘‘let me read your destiny.” She took my hand in hers, but I fell asleep under the royal gaze. I must have slept an hour. When I awoke, the woman was murmuring in my ear: ‘‘Lady—lady, the messenger awaits you.” I opened my eyes and raised myself; through the open door of the tent I could see Morecombe harnessing his horse, the time had come to resume our Journey. “Drink,” said the gip ty, presenting me with arichly chased silver goblet of wine; ‘ the Circassian blood is faint with- out the blood of the grape; noon’s sun is heavy when the tongue is parched.” With alow bow I quaffed the wine, and rose from my crimson couch. ‘‘Lady, your destiny weeps,” said the woman, mourn- fully. “I have been reading it; my soul is troubled; a shadow sits under your star; lady—you will lose a friend!” ; ‘‘Come, madam,” said Morecombe, appearing at the oor. I followed the gipsy out; my heart was chilled—vague awe and half belief followed her words. ‘I would losea friend.” Perhaps my sister. Heaven forbid! — Scores of children ran round me with outstretched hands, and shouted the only English word they seemed to know. ‘Money! money! money ‘© Away!” cried Adynma, with a royal gesture of command; ‘the guest of your queen is sacred.” Nevertheless, I turned and gave them a few coins. I expressed my gratitude to my kind hostess for her gen- erous treatment, and seated myself in the carriage. Iwas so deeply immersed in my speculations thatI no longer watched the scenes through which we passed. I was aroused by Morecombe. ‘‘We are almost there.” | ‘What! at last?” I was thoughtfully recalled now. |?? CORNUCG OOO S (CO)