Penny Dreadfuls, 1916 · page 343 of 400
Tom Anderson, Dare-Devil: A Young Virginian in the Revolution — page 343: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a page of running prose from a Victorian penny dreadful novel titled "De la Jonquière" (page 323). The text depicts a tense dramatic scene in which characters appear to be preparing for a duel at sunrise on Mount Hillaby involving weapons described as broadswords. Anderson, Eugène, Tom, and a Virginian character discuss arrangements while visiting the Governor's mansion, with references to a character named Dick (apparently jealous and the instigator), Lady Amy, and concern about whether Dick might be present at the location. The passage conveys urgency and anxiety through dialogue and brief narrative description.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
DE LA JONQUIERE 323 face. It was as serene and beautiful a face as the moon ever shone on. Anderson tried to speak, but the muscles of his throat seemed to contract. Now Eugéne was disconcerted. They went on in silence. At length he asked quietly, “When and where, Carabas?”’ ‘At sunrise; on Mount Hillaby.” “Good.” Tom groaned. “JI am responsible for this. I could curse myself, Eugéne!”’ “You? Never! Dick’scrazy jealous. That’s all. [knew he’d do some mad thing. I was expecting it.”’ ‘And there’s — Lady Amy!” whispered the Virginian. De la Jonquiére’s face took on tense lines. “That’s the worst of it.” Was it only two miles from the barracks to town? To Tom it. seemed as if they were hours on a white, rain- washed road; with the shivering, diabolical laugh of a screech owl in their ears all the “everlasting way.” They stopped at the gate of the Governor’s mansion. “Glad there’s a light in the library yet. Must see His Lordship. Some papers to sign, and so on.” “Can I do nothing? Of course you know it’s — broad- swords?” “Of course. Dick’s forte! Well, I’ve two or three out yonder. You will be at my rooms by daylight?” “Yes.” He added, heavily. “The choice of weapons was theirs, you know?”’ “T know.” “Shall I go and find Mac?” “By the way, we must get hold of Old Mac. I’d forgot- ten it.” “ They have the barracks surgeon. What’s his name—?”’ “Pomeroy,” his eyes— they had come down to him from the Battle of Anjou — still on that lighted window. There was a little pause. “I wonder if Dick can be in yonder? That would be the devil.” “T’ll go and reconnoiter —”’ GOMGIOO <S (©) im