Penny Dreadfuls, 1916 · page 307 of 400
Tom Anderson, Dare-Devil: A Young Virginian in the Revolution — page 307: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# The Marquis of Carabas, Page 289 This is a page of running prose dialogue from what appears to be a serialized Victorian novel (marked as page 289). Two characters—identified as the Marquis de la Jonquière and someone named Tom—discuss colonial politics in the British West Indies. The Marquis offers Tom employment as a Latin tutor at Codrington College and offers to cover his clothing expenses through a tailor in Bridgetown. Tom refuses, expressing anxiety about his status as a "half-blood" and concern that others like "Dick Knatchbull" would reject him. The conversation ends with Tom asking how he might serve "an officer from the Rebel Plantations" instead.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
THE Marguis oF CARABAS 289 are fulfillment? The world needs the inspiration of a simon-pure gentleman. What more can a fellow do than live up to the obligation of clean, or brave, or gentle for- bears —‘ The stainless azure of immemorial veins’? Who would go back on his decent dead?”’ : Sigg Jonquiére smiled. “So you think I have my hands ull: “Between big obligations and big opportunities— yes.”’ ‘“T shall never care for anything but the army. Here the fight is always on between France and Great Britain. Of course I can’t take up arms against the French.” “A bas Britannia! By the way, you are a member of the Legislative Council, I think?’’ “Oh, pro tem. There are twelve members. When fewer than seven are resident in the island, Lord Mulgrave ap- points somebody to fill the absentees’ shoes, for the dis- patch of business. I am a member of the Representative Assembly. ['womembers are returned from each parish. The day you raised Cain in the jail-yard, you know, I was in the Council Chamber because somebody was in An- tigua.”’ “What a lucky minute for me!”’ ‘““T should like to give you cause to think so.” And he briefly detailed his plan. Another tutor was needed for the junior Latin class at the college. “All you need is a tailor. The Bridgetown tailor is n’t bad, being a French- man. We'll give him carte-blanche, and until you are on your feet the bills are my affair. I’ll speak to the Presi- dent of Codrington.” “My dear Marquis,” ‘Tom’s voice creaked, “even your kindness can’t take this abominable stain off my skin. No, no; it would never do. Codrington College could not afford to sport a half-blood!”’ ~ But Dr. Mac—”’ “Dick Knatchbull would give me a black eye.” “Dick’s insolence is—” He bit his lip. “Tell me in what way I may be of service to an officer from the Rebel Plantations in the British West Indies.” CORNICLIOO SS (CO) im