The Opposite House: A Novel — page 37: what you’re looking at

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

CHAPTER TV. TWO GABLE HOUSES. The Gerrald house stood inthe center of the city. The street was one of those ancient ones, a relic of bygone days, when dignified membersof the senate passed along, litters and clumsy coaches swayed to and fro, or fair, girlish faces peeped through the leaden-cased panes, to drop at the feet of the Raths- herr a sprig of rosemary, which in the good old days meant, in the language of the flowers: “I will go with you to the altar.” Here on the stone door-post still stood a large “ L. G.,” and below, nearly obliterated, “‘ 1673,” that were meant for old Leopold Gerrald, the haughty, morose gentleman in black-velvet blouse and huge lace col- lar, who for a long time occupied a seat in the senate, and with dignified bearing marched at the head of the guild. His portrait still hung in the hall. Here a delicate coat of arms was traced—a leaping horse and an empty field beneath. It was probably done [32] comicboooks.com