Richard Forrest, Bachelor — page 178: what you’re looking at

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

FLORINE. 169 marked, ‘Nature and man did their utmost to make ita heaven on earth, but, unfortunately, the devil got posses- sion of it.’ ’’ | ‘Rather rough on the managers of the Casino,’’ said Ar- thur. Gertrude, after passing a hunch-back in the corridor, at once insisted upon ‘‘trying her luck,’’ declaring that as she had touched his coat, it would be impossible for her to lose. Accordingly, managing to secure a place at one of the tables, she staked a few louis on the ‘‘noir,’’ and, much to her delight, fortune favored her. ‘Now,’ advised Arthur, ‘‘risk the whole amount upon the ‘rougs’ and you may double them again.’’ ‘‘Oh, no,’’ replied his wife, vacating her coveted seat; ‘‘I have won, and I am satisfied.”’ ‘Que les femmes sont sages!’ murmured an old diplo- mat, admiringly, at her elbow, as he slipped into her place. ‘Tf you will excuse us, Dick and I will go and havea shy at the tables, while you’re enjoying yourselves. It would simply bore me to death to sit through the per- formance. We'll be back before it’s over,’’ said Arthur, as they entered the concert-room. ‘“We won’t mind in the least,’’ returned his wife. “You can put your wraps on our vacant seats,’’ sug- gested Dick, laying Miss Cameron’s coat on the back of one of the chairs. ‘‘I know you’ll enjoy that luxury.”’ The curtain rose on a scene in Normandy. In the market place of asmall village the villagers were crying their wares and soliciting custom in a rollicking chorus, which they rendered with a will. Presently the throng separated, and down through the middle ran a little peasant girl in the costume of a strolling player, ragged and torn, with a CONNIELOOO KS, EO)