Penny Dreadfuls, 1916 · page 337 of 400
Tom Anderson, Dare-Devil: A Young Virginian in the Revolution — page 337: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a page of running prose from what appears to be a serialized novel (page 319, titled "De la Jonquiere"). The text describes a romantic entanglement involving characters named Dick, Lady Amy, and references to the Oczakoff and a mysterious "Aztec Ring." A conversation occurs at the Governor's mansion where characters gossip about the source of someone's wealth, with one character (Knatchbull) making veiled accusations about an older man (Oczakoff) being involved in something suspicious—the passage cuts off mid-sentence with a pun about "the Puss-in-" (likely "Puss-in-Boots").
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
DE LA JONQUIERE 319 Tascher de la Pagerie had not gone deep. His love-affair with the belle of “Les Trois Ilots’” was terminated when she went to Fontainebleau to be married to the son of an old neighbor — about the time the folk at Oxheart were nursing Arthur Leslie back to life. The Viscountess Beau- harnais had been gathered to her husband; and Amy Dal- ton reigned in her stead. To do Dick justice, his passion for Lady Amy did him credit. It was sincere and un- selfish. But it was mad idolatry. He would cheerfully have died for her, if that sort of thing had happened to appeal to her. She was the very sun of his existence, the breath in his nostrils. And now she too was as gracious to this “ off-color’? American as if he’d been a nobleman. This state of things could not last. An explosion was bound to come. It did come, and it was a nine days’ won- der. The island reverberated with it. But the echoes were lost in the tremor of an earthquake. COBY. George, I’d like to know where the money comes from; that’s all! Old Piet Huyck’s clerk dressing like a prince! Whole thing’s a theme for an opéra bouffe.”’ They were on the piazza at the Governor’s mansion, talking over the Princess Oczakoff’s last entertainment. Knatchbull delivered this fling with his own scornful shrug. Lord Mulgrave looked uncomfortable. He knew where the money came from, but his lips were sealed. Lady Amy turned red as a pomegranate blossom. She declared with pretty vehemence: — “Tf I were the Heir of the Aztec Ring, I’d dress till I dropped. I’d dress Jike the whole Royal Family.” “Perhaps the—ah— Marquis of Carabas has re- ceived an advance on the jewel,’ ventured Mrs. Council. “He’s had more than one offer of that sort,’’ answered the Governor-General. “Tf Your Lordship will pardon me for saying so, I think old Oczakoff is the cat in the meal-tub.” “Oh, Dick! What a phrase to apply to a friend of mine!” And Lady Amy’s big blue eyes opened wide. “Well, then, I mean —the Oczakoff is the Puss-in- CORNICLM@OO SS (Cc) im