The Argosy — page 389: what you’re looking at

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

In a Dangerous Strait. 371 spirator,” was a haggard, sallow-complexioned man of forty ; his eyes were dark and restless, with a sullen, lowering look, which certainly merited the description, “sinister.” The two guests were as greata contrast in manner as in appearance, the Vicomte being just as talkative and expansive as M. Docquois was taciturn and reserved. They were alike, however, in the marked deference with which they treated their host, and also in the close and curious scrutiny which they bestowed on Gilbert himself. Glancing towards them as he exchanged a few words with de Fontenay, he found Docquois watching him furtively under his heavy brows, while the Vicomte, twirling his waxed moustache surveyed him from head to foot with undisguised curiosity. Feeling somewhat uncomfortable under this fire of eyes, he was not sorry when dinner was announced, and they crossed the hall to the dining-room. “Monsieur Docquois understands but does not speak English, so I shall put you near de Sanzac, who will be charmed to show off his knowledge of your language,” the host said, as they took their places at the perfectly appointed dinner-table, with its glittering array of glass and silver. “Convince him if you can that the sun does sometimes shine in this foggy island.” ‘“There is a week I have been in England, and every day it has rained more or less, generally more,” remarked the Vicomte. “April is usually a rainy month, even in France, is it not?” Gilbert asked, good-temperedly. The other shrugged his shoulders. ‘Cher Monsieur, I adore England ; but your climate gives me the horrors.” “I may plead that we have learned how to indemnify ourselves for its defects by home comforts,” said Gilbert smiling. “Oh, you have a genius for ‘le confort,’ I admit ; but for me, look you, I am a child of the south. Sunlight is as necessary to my happiness as . “As pretty women and good wine, for example,” put in M. de Fontenay. ‘“ Apropos—try my Xéres, Vicomte.” M. Docquois, who was supping his soup noisily from the end of his spoon, glanced at the sprightly Vicomte with an unpleasant smile. “You have just narrowly escaped being deprived of the materials for happiness for some time to come,” he said sneeringly. “True; but under those painful circumstances I should at least have enjoyed the consolation of your society, mon cher,” the other replied quickly and coolly ; ‘and such genial companionship might make even a prison endurable.” Gilbert raised his head with an involuntary look of surprised inquiry, which M. de Fontenay answered. “Ah, my dear Haviland, in spite of its climate, England is a happy country,” he said. ‘You may not have sunshine, but you have freedom ; freedom, social, religious and political. Every man can speak the thing he thinks, without danger of finding himself comicbooks.com