The Argosy — page 239: what you’re looking at

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

224 The Channel Islands. passed up through the newer and less interesting portion of the town, swept round to the left through Forest Parish, with its quaint church- yard, and in due time turned into the narrow defile leading to the Gouffre Hotel, the grand rocks and the sea, Arrived, we were received with a shock. The landlady, with stern, uncompromising expression, informed us that it was impossible to take usin. Four ladies were staying with her, and had exhausted her utmost resources. She hadn’t so much as bread to offer us. It was utterly out of the question. We must return to St. Peter Port. It was a case demanding prompt measures, resolution. “ J’y suis, j’y reste,” said Dumas, and mentally we said the same. In the politest way possible, and with an air that would have bent a will of iron, we told the landlady that if it was impossible to remain, it was still more so to return. We sang the praises of the Gouffre, the reputation of her inn, the excellent report we had received of her amiability and powers of contrivance. Gradually the lines of her face softened ; vanity, that universal touchstone to which the greatest as well as the weakest mind responds, was aroused ; victory was ours. “‘ But when all is said and done, gentlemen,” said the landlady, who was now a totally distinct and unrecognisable person from the one we had met ten minutes ago: when all is said and done, you can- Gomicbooks (E(0)