Penny Blood Serial Cover — page 111: what you’re looking at

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

ee De & ™ 7 -, . ’ ALFRED DE ROSANN. 103 were ill during the night, Francois invariably attended upon him, gave him water, arranged his straw pillow, and supported his aching head. And yet the youth was not grateful for his disinterested conduct; he was often rude and abrupt in his replies to the old man’s questions, and not unfrequently made him the butt of his low jests. Still Francois loved the worth- less boy, and entertained a father’s affection for him. It was singular such tenderness in such a heart—in the heart of a murderer; but perhaps Francois was rejoiced at knowing one individual in the world, whom he could single out and say, “ There is the only being on earth that I care for!’’ | Months rolled away; and Edouard became daily more brutal and reserved towards his benefactor, as Francois’ kindness to him increased. Oftéh did this ingratitude strike to the heart of the poor old man; and then he would say within himself, “ All my sufferings in the world are a punishment for the crime I committed in my youth; if my soul become attached to a fellow-creature, the divine wrath uses that feeble- ness aS a weapon against me.’’ One day Kidouard had offended another convict, and he received a severe blow. T'rancois reproached the man that had beaten the youth, with his cowardice in striking a person unable to defend himself, and - whose strength had not yet become matured by years. A dispute ensued, and an inspector of the dagne—a man. endowed with considerable authority—inter- fered. ‘ Hidouard has well merited his punishment,” said he; “he is the most turbulent and troublesome convict in this department of the gaol; he receives all your kindness, Francois, with the basest ingratitude, and he is perpetually. creating some disturbance, The next time he misconducts himself, I shall trans- fer him to another quarter of the prison, where indul- ence is more circumscribed, and work more abun- dant.’ With these words the inspector passed on— Edouard turned aside—and Francois muttered audi- ~ Go INOOKS = a (C@